foun·tain
ˈfau̇n-tᵊn 
1
: the source from which something proceeds or is supplied
2
: a spring of water issuing from the earth
3
: an artificially produced jet of water
also
: the structure from which it rises
4
: a reservoir containing a liquid that can be drawn off as needed
fountained; fountaining; fountains
: to flow or spout like a fountain
: to cause to flow like a fountain
Synonyms
Examples of fountain in a Sentence
Noun
The crowd gathered around the fountain in the plaza.
an endless fountain of inspiration
Recent Examples on the Web
Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
French doors lead out to a stunning courtyard garden with a fountain and sitting areas, which also can be accessed from the living room.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
Mikhail Cole is a junior in Garland's AP English Language class this year and worked on planting flowers near the fountain and Alumni Square on campus.
—Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
Also nearby is the Duck Pond, which has a large pond with fountains, and play structures.
—Amy Worden, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
To soak up some of Braga’s history, visit Sé—Portugal’s oldest cathedral dating back to 1070—or take a day trip to Bom Jesus do Monte, a picturesque staircase with decadent chapels and pretty fountains.
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024
The Woolworth and a Walgreens had full-service fountains and restaurant counters.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
There was talk of flaming duck and a chocolate fountain.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The hotel with a little fountain in the middle is called Taj Lake Palace, which is in the middle of an artificial lake with a view of the City Palace.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Tucked between the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and City Hall, Mineral Well Plaza will feature a 40-foot-tall clock tower and fountain with sculptures of lion heads, seating areas and landscaping.
—Dallas News, 15 Aug. 2022
Lava flow and fountain on Mt. Etna on January 12, 2011.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2011
These pens are usually exclusive to Japan, so to find it with an American retailer, and at a price point that isn’t inflated, is a nice surprise and the perfect entrée to fountain pens.
—Brett Braley, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022
Last year, a 6-year-old boy in Lake Jackson, Texas, died after contracting the brain-eating amoeba that was found in the water of splash fountain the boy had played in.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN, 28 Sep. 2021
Explore Echo Park Lake’s signature lotus beds and fountain on a swan pedal boat.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2020
Coke is also planning to halt retail-store sales of Hubert’s Lemonade, limiting the brand to fountain machines only, the spokeswoman said.
—Jennifer Maloney, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2020
Starting May 3, Kilauea has fountained lava and flung ash and rocks from its summit, destroying hundreds of homes, closing key highways, and prompting health warnings.
—Sophia Yan and Malcolm Ritter, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2018
Noun
Many contemporary thrillers are far more overtly gruesome than this one, partly because violence is one way unimaginative directors can put a distinctive spin on otherwise interchangeable material: Cue the artful fountains of arterial spray.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
French doors lead out to a stunning courtyard garden with a fountain and sitting areas, which also can be accessed from the living room.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
Mikhail Cole is a junior in Garland's AP English Language class this year and worked on planting flowers near the fountain and Alumni Square on campus.
—Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
Also nearby is the Duck Pond, which has a large pond with fountains, and play structures.
—Amy Worden, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
To soak up some of Braga’s history, visit Sé—Portugal’s oldest cathedral dating back to 1070—or take a day trip to Bom Jesus do Monte, a picturesque staircase with decadent chapels and pretty fountains.
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024
The Woolworth and a Walgreens had full-service fountains and restaurant counters.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
There was talk of flaming duck and a chocolate fountain.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The hotel with a little fountain in the middle is called Taj Lake Palace, which is in the middle of an artificial lake with a view of the City Palace.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
Rather than volcanic eruptions from a central peak, volcanoes of the Reykjanes often fountain from these fissures, creating floods of molten rock that look a bit like tiger stripes on a map.
—Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Tucked between the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and City Hall, Mineral Well Plaza will feature a 40-foot-tall clock tower and fountain with sculptures of lion heads, seating areas and landscaping.
—Dallas News, 15 Aug. 2022
Lava flow and fountain on Mt. Etna on January 12, 2011.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2011
These pens are usually exclusive to Japan, so to find it with an American retailer, and at a price point that isn’t inflated, is a nice surprise and the perfect entrée to fountain pens.
—Brett Braley, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2022
Last year, a 6-year-old boy in Lake Jackson, Texas, died after contracting the brain-eating amoeba that was found in the water of splash fountain the boy had played in.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN, 28 Sep. 2021
Explore Echo Park Lake’s signature lotus beds and fountain on a swan pedal boat.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2020
Coke is also planning to halt retail-store sales of Hubert’s Lemonade, limiting the brand to fountain machines only, the spokeswoman said.
—Jennifer Maloney, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2020
Starting May 3, Kilauea has fountained lava and flung ash and rocks from its summit, destroying hundreds of homes, closing key highways, and prompting health warnings.
—Sophia Yan and Malcolm Ritter, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fountain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fountain
Cite this Entry
“Fountain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fountain. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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