Meaning & use
precipitating
Causing an event or situation to happen suddenly, often before it was expected or fully ready.
See it in a sentence
The scandal ended up precipitating the resignation of the entire board.
Heavy rain kept precipitating throughout the night, flooding several low streets.
A note on using this word
Precipitating usually describes a sudden trigger for a crisis, but it also has a meteorological sense meaning falling as rain, snow, or hail.
Words with a similar meaning
triggeringcausing
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
delaying
Another way to use it
2. verb
Falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Moisture was precipitating steadily as snow across the entire mountain range.
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