pour

verb \ ˈpȯr \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of pour

transitive verb

1 a : to cause to flow in a stream

b : to dispense from a container

poured drinks for everyone

2 : to supply or produce freely or copiously

poured money into the project

3 : to give full expression to : vent

poured out his feelings

intransitive verb

1 : to move with a continuous flow

2 : to rain hard

3 : to move or come continuously : stream

complaints poured in

4 : to score easily or freely (as in basketball) —used with in

poured in 30 points

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pourable

play \ˈpȯr-ə-bəl\ adjective

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pourer

play \ˈpȯr-ər\ noun

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pouringly

play \ˈpȯr-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See pour defined for English-language learners

See pour defined for kids

Examples of pour in a Sentence

He carefully poured the water into her glass.
Pour the sauce over the pasta.
She poured salt into the palm of her hand and then sprinkled it over the stew.
The smokestacks poured out thick clouds of black smoke.
The burst pipe poured out water.
The concrete foundation has been poured.
Can I pour you some lemonade?
Smoke poured out from the chimney.
Sweat was pouring from her brow.

Recent Examples of pour from the Web

Friday, March 2: Liquid nitrogen is poured into the top of the tank.

— julie washington, cleveland.com, "Timeline of how the UH fertility freezer incident unfolded," 3 Apr. 2018
The foundations for Academy Sports + Outdoors and At Home will be poured soon as progress picks up at the Shops at Broad mixed-use development at the northwest corner of East Broad Street and U.S. 287.

— nicholas sakelaris, star-telegram, "What's that gonna be: Mansfield's Shops at Broad project grows, including StarCenter | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 2 Apr. 2018
Below uses a lactose-free, gluten-free liquid base made from coconut milk, which is poured on a metal surface that's cooled to minus 22 degrees.

— heidi williams, OregonLive.com, "Thai rolled ice cream comes to Portland at 22 Below (video)," 29 Mar. 2018
Soy wax is poured into an opaque handcrafted glass, in both a votive size ($25 with a 30-hour burn time) a larger tumbler with a satin brass lid ($65, 60-hour burn time).

— melanie rud chadwick, Allure, "Kendra Scott Is Launching a Gorgeous Gemstone-Inspired Candle Collection," 28 Mar. 2018
Because the tasting was blind, judges did not know the wine had been poured from a can.

— richard ruelas, azcentral, "Foul odor prompts recall of Dos Cabezas cans of sparkling wine," 27 Mar. 2018
Tapa Toro: Every order of paella at Tapa Toro will be poured with a free bottle of house wine.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Celebrate National Paella Day at these Orlando restaurants," 27 Mar. 2018
This mixture is poured into pretty glasses and refrigerated until set, preferably overnight.

— jill o'connor, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cookbook celebrates versatility of oranges," 26 Mar. 2018
Two Grand Tastings, where more than 1,000 different wines are poured, May 25 and May 26.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "Peek into French Quarter wine cellars: A NOWFE 'experience'," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pour.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pour

Middle English

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

pour Synonyms

pour

noun

Definition of pour

1 : the action of pouring : stream

2 a : an instance of pouring or an amount poured

b : a heavy fall of rain : downpour

Recent Examples of pour from the Web

But at Jimmy's in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, owner Jimmy Gilleece believes there's a lot more to serving customers than a good pour.

— steve hartman, CBS News, "Mission to find a stolen wallet changes one man's life," 6 Apr. 2018
The orchestra now finds itself at the heart of a bustling hipster enclave, with a Whole Foods across the street and a pour-over coffee place up the block.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Augustin Hadelich’s Bold Violin Explorations," 2 Apr. 2018
Six-ounce tasting pours will be available, and flights - pre-selected and build-your-own - also will be options.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "City Works beer-bar-restaurant to open in Orange Village," 2 Apr. 2018
Mohammed endured 15 sessions, with an average of 12 pours per session.

— glenn kessler, Washington Post, "The harsh interrogations of al-Qaeda detainees: Was it ‘torture’ and did it help find bin Laden?," 20 Mar. 2018
The pour, however, is only the start of the process.

— james b. nelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "NHL pre-season games, Disney ice shows will be possible at new Milwaukee Bucks arena," 23 Feb. 2018
Remove skillet from oven and pour melted butter into buttermilk mixture; whisk to combine and add in Cheddar and tarragon.

— Country Living, "Cheddar-Tarragon Cornbread," 21 Jan. 2010
As a result, the cask pour tastes denser, deeper, more intense.

— craig laban, Philly.com, "Drink: Yards' classic ESA is at its best on cask," 23 Mar. 2018
For example, outside the Portola Hotel in Monterey, there’s a pedestrian overpass where Lighthouse Avenue emerges from a tunnel, and there is typically a crowd gathered there watching traffic pour out.

— ezra dyer, Car and Driver, "You Don't Have to Be Wealthy (or Even Be Invited to Anything) to Have a Great Time at Pebble Beach," 22 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of pour

1790

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

POUR Defined for English Language Learners

pour

verb

Definition of pour for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to flow in a steady stream from or into a container or place
: to fill a cup or glass with a drink for someone
: to flow or move continuously in a steady stream