noun

• 1A strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid.

  ‘rain poured down in torrents’

  More example sentences

  • ‘after the rains, the stream becomes a raging torrent’
  • ‘Artemis kept the torrent of water streaming towards the animal but it did no good in slowing it down.’
  • ‘People talked about hundreds of folks running in terror through the streets trying to escape the raging torrents of waters.’
  • ‘Solicitor Paul Cowper and his family endured a gruelling seven hours trapped on a balcony, surrounded by torrents of raging water in Sri Lanka.’
  • ‘On Saturday night residents in Chapel Street and Meeting Street anxiously watched as torrents of water poured down the Chapel Hill and the Back Lane.’
  • ‘But the huge speeds of the Volvo 70s and the vast torrents of water pouring over sleek decks increases the dangers.’
  • ‘Metal sheets were used to divert the torrents of water which poured through the roof.’
  • ‘The water flowed down his garden to join the torrent coming down the stream.’
  • ‘He let out a yell as he set forth his magic, sending a torrent of water streaming towards the beasts in front of him.’
  • ‘Others needed the assistance of recovery vehicles to rescue them when the severe weather sent torrents of water cascading onto the roads of Kerry.’
  • ‘Fields were soon under water, quiet little streams changed into raging torrents, and in Taunton many homes were engulfed as the River Tone burst its banks.’
  • ‘On some roads, rain water was flowing in torrents, this time not due to rain or clogged drains.’
  • ‘The Owenduff river flows off Corslieve and was a raging torrent by comparison with the gentle stream of the summer.’
  • ‘Braving the icy torrents of white water in the Victorian Alps, personnel from the School of Artillery discovered the true meaning of adventurous training.’
  • ‘On either side of the path was a massive green field and, within each field, there was a single, pristine white fountain gushing with thick torrents of water.’
  • ‘And it flipped its tail and water poured out in torrents (yes, like rain!) out of the tank and splashed on us.’
  • ‘The other side is dominated by a dark, looming mass which suggests torrents of water rushing upward.’
  • ‘Salty water cascaded in torrents down my face and my sobs were strangled and helpless.’
  • ‘It was dark and gloomy and he could not see very well past the torrent of cascading water.’
  • ‘A smelly torrent of water flooded over him, and he let go, spluttering bad temperedly.’
  • ‘The hill burns are torrents of water and the main river a chocolate flood.’

  Synonyms

  flood, deluge, inundation, spate, cascade, rush, stream, current, gushing, flow, overflow, tide, fountain

  downpour, deluge, rainstorm, rain, shower

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1a torrent of/torrents ofAn overwhelming outpouring of (something, typically words)
     ‘she was subjected to a torrent of abuse’
     More example sentences

     • ‘He's a very bright young man whose ideas come spilling out of him - on paper or on the phone - in a torrent of words.’
     • ‘Malcolm heard a torrent of foreign words as the girl tried to calm the child, then a bustle as she laid him down.’
     • ‘It points, like an arrow, to the one word that stops her from hurling a torrent of abuse at him.’
     • ‘Sometimes a torrent of words flood out, full of references to rap, hip hop and skateboarding.’
     • ‘They humiliated Brian, subjecting him to a torrent of physical and emotional abuse.’
     • ‘He turned his attention in our direction; a torrent of abuse was unleashed.’
     • ‘More than two decades before, a torrent of information had overwhelmed detectives hunting the Yorkshire Ripper.’
     • ‘After a year which has seen Goodwin suffer a torrent of abuse over his share price, these were the first signs of submission.’
     • ‘She barely lets me finish and unleashes a torrent of abuse in my direction.’
     • ‘Three men who have helped control each other's mental illnesses have been forced from their home by a torrent of abuse.’
     • ‘She responded from the public gallery with a torrent of abuse at court staff, while Ashley hit a policewoman in the dock.’
     • ‘Well, the answer could be that most Scots are frightened in case they get a torrent of verbal abuse - or a black eye.’
     • ‘When they tried talking to the youngsters concerned they claim they received a torrent of abuse.’
     • ‘If anyone complains, they are met with a torrent of abuse or even physical threats.’
     • ‘He became angry when she asked him to get off so she could pull away and launched a torrent of abuse.’
     • ‘It also brought a torrent of anti-union abuse and lies in most of the media.’
     • ‘After that disgraceful performance the players should have been subjected to a torrent of jeers and whistles.’
     • ‘The gunship circled in the night sky, raining a torrent of bullets down on buildings and streets nearby.’
     • ‘Ocap has been subjected to a torrent of criticism in the media and by mainstream politicians.’
     • ‘But this year it could be said his actions are speaking louder than the torrent of words with which he showers his questioners.’
     Synonyms

     outburst, stream, volley, outpouring, hail, onslaught, avalanche, flow, barrage, battery, tide, spate, effusion, inundation

     View synonyms