supposed to rain

USAGE SUMMARY

"supposed to rain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expecting something to happen due to an expectation or prediction. For example, "I heard it's supposed to rain tomorrow, so I better bring an umbrella."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

However, it's supposed to rain tomorrow".

The New York Times

It's supposed to rain this weekend.

The New Yorker

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain.

The New York Times - Sports

It's not supposed to rain in Southern California.

The New York Times

And on Sunday, July 22, it's supposed to rain.

The Washington Post

It's not supposed to rain here in winter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

[Our] reindeer have problems in winter getting food as the temperature shifts; it's warm and cold, and raining when it's not supposed to be raining, and the ice is more insecure, which is dangerous for us and them too.

The Guardian

Up in Bilbao, it was football the way it is supposed to be: raining.

The Guardian - Sport

"This is the British Open; it's supposed to be raining sideways and blowing like crazy," Woods's fellow golfer Scott McCarron said that day.

The New York Times - Sports

Not one of the many complainers about the confetti that is supposed to be raining out of Florida's ballots seems to have done the crucial experiment.

The New York Times

"It was supposed to stop raining by 11," he says, a little dejected.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "supposed to rain" in formal scientific reports; opt for more precise and technical language like "precipitation is forecast".

Common error

Don't use "supposed to rain" to describe a climate fact or a general truth about a location's weather patterns. Use it only when referring to a specific, predicted instance of rain. For example, don't say "It's supposed to rain in Seattle", instead, say "It often rains in Seattle" or "It is expected to rain tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to rain" functions as a predictive expression. It conveys an expectation about a future weather event, specifically rainfall, based on forecasts, assumptions, or prior information, as indicated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supposed to rain" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for indicating an anticipated rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in news and media, it serves to inform and prepare individuals for expected weather conditions. While versatile, its informal tone makes it less suited for formal scientific contexts, where alternatives like "precipitation is forecast" are preferred. Remember, this phrase reflects an expectation and might not always align with the actual weather experienced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to rain

Replaces "supposed" with a more formal term, while retaining the prediction aspect.

forecast to rain

Uses a meteorological term to indicate a professional weather forecast.

predicted to rain

Similar to "forecast", but slightly less formal.

likely to rain

Indicates a probability rather than a firm expectation.

raining is anticipated

More formal and passive way of expressing the expectation of rain.

showers are expected

Specifically refers to showers rather than general rain.

precipitation is forecast

Uses a broader term (precipitation) to include rain, snow, sleet, etc.

it will probably rain

Expresses a degree of uncertainty about the rain.

rain is on the horizon

More metaphorical, suggesting rain is imminent.

rain is coming

A more direct and less formal way of indicating that rain is expected.

FAQs

How can I use "supposed to rain" in a sentence?

You can use "supposed to rain" to indicate an expectation or prediction. For example, "It's "supposed to rain" tomorrow, so bring an umbrella."

What's a less common way to say "supposed to rain"?

You could say "precipitation is forecast" for a more technical term, although it's less frequently used in everyday conversation.

Is it correct to say "it was supposed to rain"?

Yes, "it was supposed to rain" is the past tense form and is perfectly correct when referring to a past expectation or forecast that may or may not have come true.

What's the difference between "expected to rain" and "supposed to rain"?

"Expected to rain" is more formal and generally refers to an official forecast, while ""supposed to rain"" can also refer to a more casual prediction or hearsay.