spout

1 of 2

verb

ˈspau̇t 

spouted; spouting; spouts

transitive verb

1

: to eject (liquid) in a stream

wells spouting oil

2

a

: to speak or utter readily, volubly, and at length

spouting poetry

—often used with off

spouting off a long list of examples to prove his point

b

: to speak or utter in a pompous or oratorical manner : declaim

a candidate spouting empty promises

intransitive verb

1

: to issue with force or in a jet : spurt

2

: to eject material (such as liquid) in a jet

3

: declaim

spouted on and on about politics

—often used with off

tired of her spouting off about her successes

spouter noun

spout

2 of 2

noun

1

: a pipe or conductor through which a liquid is discharged or conveyed in a stream: such as

a

: a pipe for carrying rainwater from a roof

b

: a projecting tube or lip from which a liquid (such as water) issues

2

: a discharge or jet of liquid or moisture from or as if from a pipe: such as

a

: waterspout

b

: the blowing of a whale

3

archaic : pawnshop

spouted

ˈspau̇-təd 

adjective

Synonyms of spout

Verb

• pour
• stream
• rush

Noun

• gutter

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Verb

The well was spouting oil.

She kept spouting on and on about politics.

Noun

Water was flowing from the spout.

the spout of a tea kettle

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Boeing’s defense and space division, meanwhile, was booking multi-billion losses on federal contracts spouting big cost overruns. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 June 2026

That’s the prayerful explanation for the nonsense that spouted this week from the leaders of a football conference that hopes to grow up and be the Big Ten someday. —Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Noun

The work’s whistling sounds are activated by pouring liquid into a spout and swirling it around to create changes in atmospheric pressure within. —Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026

The glass container has a pour spout and a spray nozzle so users can fill it up with the oil of their choice to grease pans or top dips. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spoiten to spout, Old English spīwan to spew

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spout

• up the spout

Rhymes for spout

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout

Kids Definition

spout

1 of 2 verb

ˈspau̇t 

1

: to shoot (as liquid) out with force

wells spouting oil

2

: to speak with a long and quick flow of words so as to sound important

3

: to flow out with force : spurt

blood spouted from the wound

spouter noun

spout

2 of 2 noun

1

: a tube, pipe, or hole through which something (as rainwater) spouts

2

: a sudden strong stream of fluid