pour
gb/pˈɔɹ/ us/pˈɔɹ/
A1
English
~ 2400
önt, tölt, ömlik, szakad, fektet
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to pour [liquid] into [container/place]
She poured the coffee into two mugs.
Két bögrébe öntötte a kávét.
He poured milk over his cereal.
Tejet öntött a gabonapelyhére.
Can you pour me some water, please?
The waitress poured wine for the guests.
I poured the soup into bowls.
Learner examples
I pour milk into my cup.
Tejet öntök a poharamba.
She pours tea for her friend.
Teát tölt a barátjának.
Please pour water into the glass.
He pours juice into the bottle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pour' with 'spill'. 'Pour' is controlled, while 'spill' is accidental.
Meaning
Cause liquid to flow
Collocations
pour water
|pour milk
|pour tea
|pour wine
|pour sauce
Synonyms
tip (More general; can refer to tilting something without necessarily involving liquid.)
|
decant (More formal; often used for pouring wine or other liquids carefully.)
Antonyms
retain (To keep the liquid inside rather than letting it flow out.)
Themes
daily life
|cooking
|daily_life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make liquid go out of a container in a steady way.
To make a liquid flow from a container in a steady stream, especially by holding or tipping the container.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to pour from [source]
Rain poured down all night.
Egész éjjel szakadt az eső.
Tears poured from her eyes.
Könnyek ömlöttek a szeméből.
Smoke poured from the factory chimney.
Sunlight poured through the windows.
Learner examples
Rain pours from the sky.
Szakad az eső.
Tears pour from her eyes.
Könnyek ömlenek a szeméből.
Smoke pours from the fire.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'pour' for any type of movement; it is mainly for liquids, rain, or things moving like a liquid.
Meaning
Flow rapidly in large amounts
Collocations
rain pours
|tears pour
|smoke pours
|light pours
Synonyms
stream (Suggests a continuous flow, but can be slower or smaller than 'pour'.)
|
gush (Implies forceful and abundant flow, often sudden.)
Antonyms
trickle (To flow slowly in small amounts.)
Themes
weather
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To come down or go out very fast and in large amounts.
To flow quickly and continuously in large amounts, especially of rain or other substances.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to pour [resources/energy/money] into [something]
The company poured millions into the new project.
A cég milliókat fektetett az új projektbe.
She poured all her energy into her studies.
Minden energiáját a tanulmányaiba fektette.
Volunteers poured their time and skills into helping rebuild the town.
Learner examples
We pour money into the school.
Sok pénzt fektetünk az iskolába.
He pours time into learning English.
Sok időt fektet az angoltanulásba.
They pour energy into the game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse literal and figurative uses of 'pour'; here it is figurative for giving in large amounts.
Meaning
Give something abundantly
Collocations
pour money into
|pour effort into
|pour resources into
Synonyms
invest (Refers specifically to putting money or resources into something for future benefit.)
|
funnel (Often used metaphorically for directing large amounts toward something.)
Antonyms
withhold (To not give or supply what is expected or needed.)
Themes
business
|effort
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To give or send many things without stopping.
To provide or send something in large amounts without stopping.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pour
IPA
GB/pˈɔɹ/
US/pˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
pour (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pour)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: pour
- 3rd Person Singular: pours
- Present Participle: pouring
- Past: poured
Word family
Forms
pours
verb
pouring
verb
poured
verb
Related words
downpour
noun
pourable
adjective
Advanced or less common
outpouring
noun
Expressions
pour cold water on
1/pˈɔɹ kˈoʊld wˈɔtɚ ˈɔn/
idiom
Discourage an idea or enthusiasm
To say or do something that makes people lose excitement about an idea.
Examples
- She poured cold water on his plan by pointing out all the risks.
- The manager poured cold water on our proposal.
pour down
1/pˈɔɹ dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Rain heavily and continuously
When it rains very hard for a long time.
Examples
- It was pouring down all afternoon.
- We got soaked because it started to pour down.
pour one's heart out
1/pˈɔɹ wˈʌnz hˈɑɹt ˈaʊt/
idiom
informal
Share emotions openly and fully
To tell someone everything you feel in an honest and emotional way.
Examples
- He poured his heart out to his best friend after the breakup.
- Sometimes you just need to pour your heart out to feel better.