Difference Between Rain, Reign and Rein: All You Need to Know

Since candidates sometimes get these terms and end up marking incorrect answers. In the general English section, which is an important part of most competitive tests, questions based on the reign vs rein vs rain are posed.

What are Homophones?

Homophones are words that sound alike but have diverse meanings. Despite the fact that the two words sound similar, their applications and meanings are vastly different. Let’s have a look at some examples to help you understand how to use each word correctly.

Difference Between Rain/Rein/Reign

Questions about the differences between reign, rein, and rain are asked in competitive exams as detecting errors questions or in the reading comprehension section. 

Rain	Rein	Reign
Rain is condensed atmospheric vapour/water droplets that fall from clouds as a noun. As a verb, it means to come down or flow in huge quantities, as if it were raining on something or someone.	As a noun, a long, narrow strap is used to manage and direct a horse. As a verb, it means to control, hold, or direct anything.	As a noun, it refers to an era in which a sovereign reigns. As a verb, it denotes possessing a royal position, such as that of a king, queen, or monarch.
Peacock enjoys dancing in the rain. Today is going to be a rainy day. While cutting onions, tears streamed down his cheeks. I’d go out with the fork if it was raining noodles. Due to heavy rainfall, the streets are flooded.	She struggled to keep her emotions in check after hearing such tragic news. The rider gently secured the rein to the horse.	Before the British, the Mughals ruled India. A reign of horror follows the technological breakthrough.

About Rain:

Water that condenses from vapour in the atmosphere and falls as individual drops from clouds to the Earth. Rain forms primarily in three ways: at weather fronts, when the vapour within the hotter mass of air cools and condenses.

On mountain ranges when a heat mass of air is forced to rise over a mountain, and its vapour cools and condenses; and by convection in hot climates, when the vapour suddenly rises and cools and condenses.

• Use as Noun

When the moisture in our atmosphere is collected in the sky, it undergoes condensation (the conversion of vapour to liquid) and falls as individual water droplets. Rain is the showering of water from the sky on the earth, and these water drops are known as rain. Rain is a well-known natural occurrence that is also a common term.

• Use as Verb

Rain is a verb that defines an action that occurs as water drops from the sky fall. It began to pour. When employed as a verb, rain refers to the act of water falling or descending on anything. In other words, rain has the same meaning as a noun and a verb; the only variation is in how it is used.

Examples of Rain

1. While cutting onions, tears rained down his cheeks.
2. Due to heavy rain, the streets are flooded.

About Rein:

One of a variety of lengthy straps, usually made of animal skin and stretching from the bit’s side to the rider’s, driver’s, or trainer’s hand, will not manage a horse.

• Use as Noun

The act of leading a state or a territory as a monarch or holding a regal position is known as reigning. The monarch, king, queen, or ruler rules over a group of individuals over whom he or she has the most power and respect. Rein is the British term for the straps used to confine small toddlers. Leather baby reins were worn by the kids. The term “rein” refers to the power of direction and control.

• Use as Verb

When used as a noun or a verb, Rein has the same meaning. Reining is the action of pulling the reins of a horse to check or steer it. The action is called rein when something or someone is kept under control or restrained.

Examples of Rein

1. Observe yoga to reign your jumbled thoughts.
2. He is the eldest and rein over his family.

About Reign:

The length of time a monarch has been on the throne is Royal rule or power. The reign of law is the exercise of dominating authority or influence. To rule to have or wield sovereign power or authority. Carry the sovereign’s rank and name without exerting any controlling power. To be in charge of something or to have a lot of power. 

• Use as Noun

The term “reign” refers to a monarch’s duration of rule. Henry VIII reigned for 56 years. Its reign refers to the dominant or superlative phase of something that was most prominent at the time. It reigns when a specific quality, feature, or attribute is the most influential at a given period.

• Use as Verb

The act of leading a state or a territory as a monarch or holding a regal position is known as reigning. The monarch, king, queen, or ruler rules over a group of individuals over whom he or she has the most power and respect.

Examples of Reign

1. Before the British, the Mughals reigned in India.
2. Julius Caesar had reigned the Roman Empire.