was still raining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was still raining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe ongoing rain at a specific point in the past. Example: "When I left the house, it was still raining, so I grabbed my umbrella."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

It was still raining.

The New Yorker

It was still raining, though lightly now.

The Guardian

It was still raining; there was nowhere to go.

The New Yorker

It was still raining, a little harder than before.

The New Yorker

When he left the bar the sky was still light; it was still raining.

The New Yorker

It was still raining when we came out of the Museum.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

5.44pm It's still raining.

The Guardian - Sport

It's still raining is the news.

The Guardian - Sport

6.50pm BST UPDATE It's still raining.

The Guardian - Sport

"And it's still raining," Mr. Stark said.

The New York Times

12.49am GMT Rain update It's still raining.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was still raining" to emphasize the duration of the rain or to contrast it with a change or expectation. For example, "The sun was expected to come out, but it "was still raining" when I left for work."

Common error

Avoid using "was still raining" when referring to a future event. Use "will still be raining" instead. For example, instead of "I hope it was not still raining tomorrow", say "I hope it will not still be raining tomorrow".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was still raining" functions as part of a verb phrase, indicating a continuous action in the past. Ludwig AI shows its usage to describe a condition that persisted at a specific time. It combines the past tense of "to be" with the adverb "still" and the present participle of "to rain", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the rainfall.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was still raining" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe continuing rainfall in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing. When using the phrase, ensure you are correctly referencing past conditions and consider alternative phrasings like "it continued to rain" for variety or emphasis. Be sure to avoid using it when referring to future events. The semantic load is light, and its intent is to depict background condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it continued to rain

Replaces "was still" with "continued to", focusing on the action of raining.

the rain persisted

Uses a more formal and concise way to indicate the continuation of the rain.

the rain hadn't stopped

Emphasizes the lack of cessation of the rain.

it kept raining

Uses a more informal phrasing to indicate the continuation of the rain.

the rain was ongoing

Focuses on the continuous nature of the rainfall.

rain was still falling

Highlights the action of the rain rather than its state.

the downpour continued

Emphasizes the intensity of the rain and its persistence.

it remained rainy

Shifts the focus to the state of being rainy, rather than the action of raining.

the weather stayed wet

Broadens the description to the overall weather condition.

the skies were still weeping

Uses a more poetic and figurative way to describe the continuous rain.

FAQs

How can I use "was still raining" in a sentence?

You can use "was still raining" to describe a situation where rain continued at a particular point in the past. Example: "Even after sunset, it "was still raining" heavily."

What's a more formal way to say "was still raining"?

A more formal way to express that rain continued is to say "the rain persisted" or "the precipitation continued". These alternatives convey a similar meaning but are suited for more formal writing.

Is it correct to say "is still raining" instead of "was still raining"?

The correct tense depends on the time frame. "Is still raining" describes present conditions, while "was still raining" describes past conditions. For example, "It is still raining now," versus "It "was still raining" yesterday when I left."

What can I say instead of "was still raining" to emphasize heavy rainfall?

To emphasize the intensity, you could say "the downpour continued" or "it "was still pouring"". These phrases highlight not just the continuation but also the strength of the rain.