outbreak of rain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outbreak of rain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden downpour of rain, often when it begins unexpectedly. For example, "We were enjoying a nice picnic, until an unexpected outbreak of rain sent us running for cover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With rain, crashes aplenty and the regular introduction of virtual safety cars, climaxed by a further outbreak of rain in the final laps, this was a race to remember with great pleasure, although not for the many who came a cropper on its tight corners and narrow passages.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Through Saturday outbreaks of rain and some hill snow will spread south.

The Guardian

But it was the outbreaks of rain rather than violence that brought demonstrations to an end.

The Guardian

And following into Noon we'll see outbreaks of rain across parts of Western Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.

Independent

As a result, it became the focus of several heavy outbreaks of rain and thunderstorms, culminating in a disappointingly wet Bank Holiday in England and Wales.

The Guardian

"Unsettled conditions are likely to continue, giving a mixture of bright spells and showers with some longer outbreaks of rain at times.

The Guardian

He said: "We are still going to have some outbreaks of rain and mainly hill snow for Scotland, particularly in the south.

Independent

A yellow warning for rain was issued for Saturday, with showers, some of them heavy and thundery, together with outbreaks of rain spreading north across much of England and Wales.

The Guardian

All the way through the next week there is a small thread of outbreaks of rain with at times some breezy winds, affecting the North West of the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland in particular.

Independent

There will be outbreaks of rain tomorrow morning over Wales, the Midlands and northern parts of England, which will push southeastwards across the UK, clearing the South Coast early on in the afternoon.

Independent

"At the weekend we may start to see outbreaks of rain returning again across the North West, across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and also we'll see temperatures starting to tail off again.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outbreak of rain" to vividly describe a sudden and often unwelcome commencement of rainfall, particularly when it disrupts an activity or event.

Common error

Avoid using "outbreak of rain" in formal or scientific writing where a more neutral term like "period of rainfall" or "incidence of precipitation" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Descriptive phrase: "Outbreak of rain" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically acting as a noun modifier or within a noun phrase. It vividly portrays a sudden and often disruptive commencement of rainfall. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outbreak of rain" is a grammatically correct and evocative way to describe a sudden onset of rainfall. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English. While not highly frequent, it appears in diverse sources like news reports, scientific articles, and general narratives. Its usage is most common in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, consider whether a more neutral term would be more appropriate for formal or scientific writing. Alternatives like "spate of rain" or "sudden rainfall" may suit different contexts better.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spate of rain

Replaces "outbreak" with "spate", suggesting a sudden and intense period of rain. This changes the intensity of the situation.

bout of rain

Uses "bout" instead of "outbreak", implying a short period of rain. This changes the duration and force of the situation.

burst of rain

Substitutes "outbreak" with "burst", indicating a sudden, short and intensive rainfall. Changes duration of the situation.

period of rainfall

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general description, losing the sense of suddenness. The expression is much less evocative than "outbreak of rain".

spell of rain

Substitutes "outbreak" with "spell", indicating longer and continuous rainfall. Changes duration and intensity of the situation.

sudden rainfall

Focuses on the suddenness of the rain, omitting the implication of intensity. Changes the intensity of the situation.

heavy downpour

Replaces the entire phrase to emphasize the heaviness of the rain. Shifts focus from the beginning of the event to its intensity.

sudden shower

Replaces the entire phrase with a short burst of rain, losing the implication of intensity. Changes duration and intensity of the situation.

onset of rain

Switches the focus to the beginning of the rain. The expression is less evocative than "outbreak of rain".

incidence of rain

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "outbreak" with "incidence". The expression is much less evocative than "outbreak of rain".

FAQs

How can I use "outbreak of rain" in a sentence?

You can use "outbreak of rain" to describe a sudden and often unexpected start to rainfall. For example, "The picnic was ruined by a sudden "outbreak of rain"".

What's a more formal alternative to "outbreak of rain"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "period of rainfall" or "incidence of precipitation", which are less evocative but more appropriate for scientific or formal contexts.

Is "outbreak of rain" the same as "shower"?

While both refer to rain, ""outbreak of rain"" suggests a more sudden and possibly intense start to the rain, whereas "shower" is a more general term for a brief period of rain.

What words typically collocate with "outbreak of rain"?

The phrase "outbreak of rain" often collocates with adjectives like "sudden", "unexpected", or verbs describing disruption, such as "ruined", "stopped", or "interrupted".