# pour

/ˈpɔɹ/ (US) · /pˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pour
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to flow from a container

verb · CEFR B1

to make a liquid flow out of a container and into something else.

For teachers: to cause a liquid or a substance consisting of small particles to flow in a continuous stream from a container.

- He poured some cold water into a glass for his guest.
- The waiter carefully poured the vintage wine into the decanter, ensuring that no sediment disturbed the clarity of the liquid.

Usage: Transitive; usually takes a preposition like 'into', 'out of', or 'over'.

### 2. to rain heavily

verb · CEFR B1

to rain very hard for a long time.

For teachers: to rain heavily and continuously; often used in the impersonal 'it' construction.

- We couldn't go for a walk because it started to pour with rain.
- It has been pouring since dawn, turning the garden paths into small streams and forcing the cancellation of the outdoor festival.

Usage: Often used as an impersonal verb: 'It is pouring'.

### 3. to move in a crowd

verb · CEFR B2

when a large number of people move quickly in one direction.

For teachers: to move or proceed in large numbers or a continuous stream.

- Thousands of fans poured out of the stadium after the game ended.
- As soon as the doors opened, the crowd poured into the hall, eager to secure the best seats for the keynote speech.

Usage: Intransitive; often followed by a directional preposition.

### 4. to express feelings

verb · CEFR B2

to talk a lot about your feelings or secrets to someone.

For teachers: to express one's emotions or thoughts freely and at length, typically in the phrasal verb 'pour out'.

- She poured out her heart to her best friend after the breakup.
- In his final letter, he poured out his frustrations regarding the project's failure and his lack of support from the board.

Usage: Commonly used as 'pour out one's heart' or 'pour out one's feelings'.

### 5. an amount poured

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the act of pouring a drink, or the amount that is poured.

For teachers: the act of pouring a liquid, or a specific serving of a beverage.

- The bartender gave him a very generous pour of whiskey.
- The sommelier noted that a standard pour for the tasting menu would be exactly three ounces per glass.

## Examples

- Please pour some water into my glass.
- The waiter leaned over to pour the wine carefully so that he did not spill a drop on the white tablecloth.
- As the storm clouds gathered over the valley, the rain began to pour with such intensity that the hikers were forced to seek immediate shelter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.