Capacitor has a rise time and a fall time which is dependent on the value of the load as well as the value of the capacitance that is connected as the load(load resistance).The aim of a rectifier is to convert ac voltage into dc voltage.The presence of capacitance assuming fairly high capacitance value, is used when the ac signal having a negative slope (i.e. for θ>90. and θ<180. assuming the ac signal to be sinωt,where θ=ωt).Here the capacitor delays the effect of the change in the slope of the signal at the output because of the presence of discharge time associated with it thereby making the output to remain nearly the same value till the signal reaches the value of θ=180..Now during the period from ωt=180. to ωt=270.,the capacitor has to charge and here again the presence of this capacitor delays the process thereby trying to maintain the voltage level at approximately the same level.
Hope this clarifies your doubt.