What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
raining
Example
It's raining cats and dogs outside, we should stay indoors. [raining: verb]
Example
The weather forecast said it would be raining all day. [raining: present participle]
drizzling
Example
It's just drizzling outside, we can still go for a walk. [drizzling: present participle]
Example
The leaves were wet from the morning drizzle. [drizzle: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Raining is more commonly used than drizzling in everyday language. Raining is a more versatile word that can describe different types of rainfall, while drizzling is more specific and refers to a light and gentle rainfall.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between raining and drizzling?
Both raining and drizzling are informal words that can be used in casual conversations. However, raining can also be used in formal writing and speech, while drizzling is less common in formal contexts.
