It's pouring

USAGE SUMMARY

"It's pouring" is correct and it can be used in written English.
Example: It's pouring outside, so we can't go for a walk.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's pouring rain by the time the buses arrive at the second McDonald's location in west suburban Cicero, outside of Chicago.

The Guardian

It's pouring more resources into building out the Facebook Camera platform that copies Snap's camera.

TechCrunch

"It's pouring".

The New York Times

It's pouring rain.

The Economist

It's pouring down now.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's pouring out here," he said.

The New Yorker

"It's pouring money down a hole".

The New York Times

It's pouring rain the morning we visit the gallery.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's pouring out of him [right now]," Coyle went on.

The Guardian - Music

It's pouring down from the loft, litres of it.

The Guardian

It's pouring," she concluded, signing off, "It's just quite, quite something..."...

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It's pouring" to vividly describe heavy rainfall, creating a strong image in the reader's mind.

Common error

While "It's pouring" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal or scientific writing where a more precise or technical description of rainfall might be required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It's pouring" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating the current state of the weather. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "It's pouring" is a grammatically sound and commonly understood phrase used to describe heavy rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples from reputable sources, like The Guardian and The New York Times. While suitable for informal and news contexts, consider more precise language for formal or scientific writing. Alternatives such as "it's raining heavily" or "raining cats and dogs" can offer subtle variations in meaning and register. To avoid misuse, remember that while vivid, "it's pouring" might be too informal for certain formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It's raining cats and dogs

An idiomatic expression signifying very heavy rain.

It's raining heavily

Directly indicates a large amount of rainfall.

The rain is coming down hard

Emphasizes the intensity of the rainfall.

It's bucketing down

A colloquial term for heavy rain.

The heavens are open

A more dramatic way to describe heavy rainfall.

It's absolutely teeming

Describes rain that is very intense and plentiful.

It's coming down in sheets

Suggests the rain is falling in a continuous, dense flow.

It's pelting down

Indicates rain falling with considerable force.

It's chucking it down

A British slang expression for heavy rain.

It's a deluge

Describes an overwhelming amount of rain.

FAQs

What does the phrase "It's pouring" mean?

The phrase "It's pouring" means it's raining very heavily. It's an idiomatic way to describe intense rainfall.

What can I say instead of "It's pouring"?

You can use alternatives like "it's raining heavily", "the rain is coming down hard", or "it's raining cats and dogs" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "It's pouring"?

Yes, "It's pouring" is grammatically correct. The construction "It is" is often contracted to "It's" in spoken and informal written English.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "It's pouring"?

It is appropriate to use "It's pouring" in informal conversation, descriptive writing, and situations where you want to emphasize the intensity of the rain. However, avoid this expression in formal or scientific contexts where more precise language may be needed.