rain lets up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rain lets up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the rain decreases or stops temporarily. Example: "After a long morning of heavy downpour, the rain lets up just in time for our afternoon picnic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

When the rain lets up, the tree stops.

Huffington Post

"If you're sitting in the Houston area and you see a break and the rain lets up, don't let your guard down.

Huffington Post

A18 SPORTS D1-8 Rain Lets Up, Briefly, at Open Fourth-seeded Andy Roddick beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5), in a men's quarterfinal at the United States Open.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The rain let up that afternoon.

The New York Times - Sports

The rain let up, and then started again.

The New Yorker

The sky darkened but the rain let up, and each team sank into a malaise.

The New York Times - Sports

Because I was finally kitted out properly, the rain let up the next morning.

The New York Times - Travel

12 30 p.m. | Updated The U.S. Open is still under indefinite delay, with no sign of the rain letting up.

The New York Times

When the rain let up a bit, I strolled through the little garden beds surrounding the poolside patio.

The New York Times - Travel

Even when the rain let up, you could judge the quality of the coming pavement by the detonations of spray when a car hit a brimming pothole.

The New York Times

Although lightning lingered, the rain let up and they played nine holes until 2 a.m. on the lighted course set amid a lush tropical rain forest.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rain lets up" to describe a temporary break or lessening in rainfall intensity, suggesting a possible return to heavier rain later.

Common error

Avoid using "rain lets up" when you want to convey that the rain has completely stopped and is unlikely to return soon. Use "rain stops" or "rain has ceased" for complete cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rain lets up" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a temporary decrease or pause in rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rain lets up" is a grammatically sound and common way to describe a temporary reduction in the intensity of rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While it’s generally considered neutral in register, it leans toward slightly less formal than alternatives like "rain abates". Primarily found in news and media contexts, it serves to inform or describe a change in weather. Remember to consider more definitive phrases if you need to convey that the rainfall has completely stopped.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rain subsides

Focuses on the lessening of intensity, rather than complete stopping.

rain eases off

Implies a gradual reduction in the intensity of the rain.

rain abates

A more formal way to describe the rain diminishing.

rain stops

Indicates a complete cessation of rainfall.

rain diminishes

Highlights the reduction in the amount of rain.

rain tapers off

Suggests a gradual decrease, often to almost nothing.

rain lightens

Focuses on the rain becoming less heavy.

downpour ceases

Specifically refers to a heavy rain stopping.

storm clears

Indicates that the entire weather system causing the rain is moving away.

weather improves

A broader term indicating a general improvement in weather conditions.

FAQs

What does the phrase "rain lets up" mean?

The phrase "rain lets up" means that the rain decreases in intensity or stops temporarily. It implies that the rain may start again later.

What can I say instead of "rain lets up"?

You can use alternatives like "rain subsides", "rain eases off", or "rain stops" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "rain lets up" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The sky darkened, but after a while, the "rain lets up", and we decided to continue our hike."

Is "rain lets up" formal or informal?

The phrase "rain lets up" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "rain abates" exist.