What does pouted mean?
Pouted is the past tense and past participle of pout and can also function as an adjective. As a verb, it describes a familiar way of showing displeasure: lowering the chin and pushing the lower lip forward, often while sulking or refusing to engage with others. The gesture is especially associated with children, but people of any age may pout, and the word can also refer simply to lips being held in a protruding position. As an adjective, pouted describes a pout-like expression and often conveys a mixture of disappointment, annoyance, or sulkiness. In everyday conversation, the word is usually informal, while “protrude,” “sulk,” or “frown” may be more suitable in formal writing. Pouted is useful when the exact facial gesture matters, rather than merely reporting that someone was unhappy.
To express displeasure or sulk by protruding the lower lip, or to hold the lips in a protruding position.
"The child pouted until her mother agreed to let her stay up later."
Common in informal usage; it often describes a sulking child but can be used for anyone.
Having protruding lips or an expression of displeasure formed by pushing the lower lip forward.
"He turned away with a pouted expression."
Less common than the verb; typically used with lips, mouth, expression, or face.
A pout can say what words do not: the lowered chin and protruding lower lip make displeasure instantly visible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pouted come from?
The form derives from the verb pout, which comes from Old French and ultimately from a Germanic root associated with swelling or protruding. In English, pout developed both the physical sense of pushing the lips forward and the social sense of sulking. Pouted is the regular past-tense and past-participle form, and the closely related pouty was formed as an adjective meaning sulky or given to pouting.
Related word forms
How pouted is actually used
The verb is informal and often describes a child's or pet's sulking, though it can describe anyone. The adjective is less common and is usually used of lips, the mouth, or a person's expression.