Meaning: The rain was pouring down from the sky in a forceful manner, hitting the ground with great impact.
Choice of Words: The word "heavily" emphasizes the intensity of the rain, while "onto" indicates the surface it was falling on.
Alternative Expressions
Water poured down from the sky.
Meaning: This sentence also describes a heavy rainfall, but it uses different words to convey the same idea.
Choice of Words: The word "water" is another word for rain. "Poured" is a verb that means to flow or fall in a steady stream. "Down" indicates the direction of the flowing water, which is towards the ground. "From" indicates the starting point of the water flow, which is the sky.
The heavens opened and unleashed a torrent of rain.
Meaning: This sentence uses figurative language to describe a heavy rainfall. It suggests that the sky opened up and released a large amount of rain, like a flood.
Choice of Words: The word "heavens" is a poetic way of referring to the sky. "Opened" is a verb that means to become clear or visible. "Unleashed" is a verb that means to release or set free. "Torrent" means a heavy flow of water. "Rain" is the object of the verb "unleashed".