# pouring

/ˈpɔɹɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈɔːɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pouring
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. flowing or serving liquid

verb · CEFR A2

the act of making a liquid flow out of a container.

For teachers: the continuous and steady transfer of a liquid from a container into another vessel or onto a surface.

- She was pouring the hot tea into the cups when the phone rang.
- The waiter was expertly pouring the vintage wine into the decanter, ensuring that no sediment disturbed the clarity of the liquid.

Usage: often used with the preposition 'into' or 'out of'

### 2. raining heavily

verb · CEFR A2

raining very hard.

For teachers: precipitating intensely and continuously.

- It was pouring with rain, so we decided to stay inside and watch a movie.
- It has been pouring down since dawn, causing the local river to rise dangerously close to the bridge's foundations.

Usage: frequently used with 'down' or in the phrase 'it is pouring'

### 3. the act of pouring

noun · CEFR B2

the action of letting a liquid flow out.

For teachers: the physical act or instance of dispensing a liquid or granular substance.

- The careful pouring of the chemicals is the most important part of the experiment.
- The steady pouring of the molten steel into the moulds created a spectacular display of sparks across the factory floor.

### 4. intense rain

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe rain that is falling very hard.

For teachers: describing rainfall characterized by high intensity and volume.

- We got soaked to the bone in the pouring rain.
- The match was eventually abandoned due to the pouring rain, which had turned the pitch into a muddy swamp within minutes.

## Examples

- It is pouring with rain outside today.
- The waiter was busy pouring water for the guests as they sat down at the table.
- While the rain was pouring down in sheets against the window, the chef continued pouring the thick sauce over the pasta with practiced precision.

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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.