occasional shower

USAGE SUMMARY

"occasional shower" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a weather forecast or a specific event that involves rain. Example: "According to the weather report, there will be occasional showers throughout the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A few garbage cans were sent reeling, and there was an occasional shower of palm fronds.

The New York Times

Swimming is not allowed, but the beach bar is reachable by boat and partly covered, in case of the occasional shower.

The New York Times

Exacerbating the damage is an earthen berm, a high mound of dirt erected last fall at the request of neighboring residents seeking a buffer from the unwelcome sights, sounds and occasional shower of rocks emanating from the quarry.

The New York Times

The sleek, modern fitness center on West 60th was a far cry from the malodorous post-Communist gyms where I had worked out in the Czech Republic, where the only luxury was the occasional shower curtain and Navratilova look-alike trainers with six packs yelling at doughy Westerners to jump over bright orange pylons.

The New York Times

These continental huts may even offer a little luxury (beds with mattresses, flushing toilets, the occasional shower and even on-site catering) but we in the UK have something even better and, what's more, completely free, with no booking required: bothies.

The Guardian - Travel

Unless you count the occasional shower of horse poop.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Fishing conditions were ideal: overcast and occasional showers.

The New York Times - Sports

Fleeting clouds and occasional showers only intensified the experience.

The New York Times - Travel

The news is likely to delight US troops who live off rations in tiny outposts where occasional showers are the closest they get to luxury.

The Guardian

It is predicting highs of around 24C from Wednesday 26 June, with only very occasional showers until Sunday afternoon, when it is predicting thunderstorms.

The Guardian - Music

A crowd of 21,477 sat through a 31-minute rain delay in the second inning and occasional showers to watch the Phillies complete a 5-1 homestand.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing weather forecasts, use "occasional shower" to indicate brief, intermittent periods of light rain, not continuous or heavy rainfall.

Common error

Avoid using "occasional shower" to describe prolonged or heavy rainfall. This phrase indicates brief, intermittent instances of light rain, not sustained precipitation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occasional shower" functions as a noun phrase that typically modifies a larger noun phrase, providing information about the weather. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

29%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "occasional shower" is a grammatically sound and generally accepted way to describe light, intermittent rainfall. As Ludwig AI states, it’s commonly used in weather reports and descriptive writing. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts and in wikis. It is crucial to distinguish its meaning from heavier or continuous rain, and this is reflected in writing guidance. Alternative phrases, such as "sporadic shower" or "chance of showers", can offer nuanced variations on the same theme.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadic shower

Replaces "occasional" with "sporadic", implying an irregular and infrequent occurrence.

intermittent drizzle

Substitutes "shower" with "drizzle", referring to a lighter form of precipitation, while "intermittent" indicates it's not constant.

light shower from time to time

Adds the explicit "from time to time", emphasizing the irregular nature of the light rain.

scattered showers

Indicates the showers are not widespread but isolated in different locations.

infrequent rain

Uses a more general term "rain" and specifies it as "infrequent".

chance of showers

Focuses on the probability rather than the occurrence itself.

passing shower

Highlights the brief duration of the rainfall.

rare downpour

Emphasizes both the infrequency and the intensity (downpour) of the rain.

isolated rain event

Shifts from a weather term to a more descriptive phrase.

uncommon rainfall

Simply uses a synonym for "occasional" to emphasize rarity.

FAQs

How can I use "occasional shower" in a sentence?

You can use "occasional shower" to describe a weather forecast, such as: "The forecast predicts mostly sunny skies with "occasional showers" in the afternoon."

What are some alternatives to "occasional shower"?

Some alternatives include "sporadic shower", "intermittent drizzle", or "chance of showers", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "occasional shower" to describe heavy rain?

No, "occasional shower" implies light and brief rain. Describing heavy rain, you should use terms like "heavy downpour" or "torrential rain".

What's the difference between "occasional shower" and "frequent shower"?

"Occasional shower" means that rain will occur now and then, not regularly. "Frequent shower" suggests the rainfall is more common or happens often.