Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause (a liquid or a substance that flows like a liquid) to flow out of a container: To empty the contents of something by tipping or decanting.
   • To express (thoughts, feelings, or information) freely and fully: To reveal or communicate one's emotions or thoughts without restraint or inhibition.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To flow out or emerge in a steady stream: To exit or be discharged from a place or container in large quantities.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (transitive - liquid):
  • She carefully poured out a glass of water for the guest.
  • He poured out the old milk from the carton.
• Verb (transitive - emotions/thoughts):
  • Feeling overwhelmed, she poured out her heart to her best friend.
  • In his letter, he poured out his feelings of loneliness and hope.
• Verb (intransitive - flow out):
  • When the doors opened, the crowd poured out of the stadium.
  • Light poured out from the windows of the house.

Advanced Usage

• "To pour out one's soul/heart": To confess one's deepest and most private feelings or troubles to someone.
  • Over tea, she finally poured out her soul about the difficulties she was facing.
• Used figuratively for non-physical things: Often used with words like .
  • The community poured out its support for the affected family.
  • He poured out a steady stream of ideas during the meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Pour (verb): The base form, meaning to make a liquid flow from a container. (e.g., )
• Outpouring (noun): A strong and sudden expression of emotion, or a large amount of something produced at once. (e.g., )
• Effuse (verb, formal): To pour out or to express feelings freely. (e.g., )
• Decant (verb): To pour (a liquid, especially wine) from one container into another, typically to separate it from sediment.

Synonyms

• Empty (out): To remove all the contents from a container.
• Discharge: To allow or cause to flow out.
• Emit: To produce and discharge (something, especially gas or radiation).
• Reveal: To make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others.
• Confess: To admit or acknowledge something, typically a fault or wrongdoing.
• Vent: To give free expression to (a strong emotion).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pour forth (literary/formal): Similar to "pour out," meaning to emerge or be expressed in a continuous flow.
  • Music poured forth from the open windows.
• Spill out: To flow or fall out of a container, often accidentally; also used for people exiting a place in large numbers or emotions being expressed.
  • The beans spilled out onto the floor. / His anger finally spilled out.

Related Idioms

• Pour cold water on something: To criticize or discourage an idea or plan.
  • He's always pouring cold water on my suggestions. (Note: This idiom uses the base verb "pour," not the phrasal verb "pour out.")

Verb

1. pour out
   • effused brine
2. be disgorged
   • The crowds spilled out into the streets
3. pour out
   • the sommelier decanted the wines
4. express without restraint
   • The woman poured out her frustrations as the judge listened