What does outpoured mean?
Outpoured is the past tense and past participle of pour out, a verb used for the forceful movement of liquid or another substance from a container or opening. It is also commonly used figuratively to describe a strong emotion, opinion, or reaction expressed without restraint: a speaker outpoured gratitude, or a grieving family outpoured its sorrow. The verb frequently suggests abundance and momentum, making it particularly effective when describing tears, anger, relief, applause, or a crowd entering a place. Although it can describe a literal flow, such as water outpouring through a broken pipe, outpoured also carries a noticeably literary or dramatic tone. In ordinary conversation, simpler forms such as poured, spilled, expressed, and vented may sound more natural. Outpoured is standard in both British and American English and is particularly useful when the writer wishes to emphasize emotional candour, force, or the sheer volume of what is released.
verbOutpoured is the past tense and past participle of pour out. It means to empty or discharge liquid or another substance, or to express a feeling, opinion, or quantity forcefully and in abundance.
- To pour a liquid or other substance out of a container or opening.
- To express a strong emotion, opinion, or reaction freely and forcefully.
- To emerge or discharge in large quantities.
"As the orchestra began, the audience outpoured its excitement in a wave of applause."
"Rain outpoured through the broken windows and flooded the old cellar."
"Unable to contain her disappointment, she outpoured a long explanation before anyone could respond."
A word for a flood that began inside: outpoured can describe tears, anger, gratitude, or even an entire audience pouring into a place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outpoured come from?
The English form combines the prefix out- with pour, an English verb borrowed from Old French pourer. The French word is commonly traced to Latin percussare, meaning 'to strike' or 'pierce'. In the compound, the prefix expresses an outward direction, while the verb's past-tense suffix produces outpoured.
How outpoured is actually used
The word is most common in literary, formal, or emotionally expressive writing. It often implies force, abundance, and a lack of restraint, especially when describing grief, anger, relief, or enthusiasm.
Easily confused with outpoured
Outpoured is a past-tense verb form, whereas outpour can be a noun meaning an outward flow or expression of something.