outpouring
Americannoun
-
outpourings
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outpouring
1750–60; out- + pouring ( def. )
Explanation
An outpouring is a gush, flow, or fast stream of something. An outpouring of lava from an active volcano would be a bad thing, but an outpouring of support from the community would be a very good thing. A literal outpouring is something you can actually see, like an outpouring of water from a hose. It's actually more common to use outpouring figuratively, as in an outpouring of community support for a family of refugees or an outpouring of new work by a prolific artist. This noun dates from the fifteenth century, when it was first used to describe "a pouring out of spiritual things."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Willis, parish rector of St Michael's Church in Brantham, said he had "never seen anything like" the outpouring of support.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
When the scrapped “John Galliano: Horizons” was announced in July, the exhibition was immediately met with an outpouring of criticism.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
“This is the upside of the downside. This is an outpouring of energy and true democracy like I have never seen in my very long life.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Four days after the crash, the loss felt especially heavy, as an initial outpouring of support from friends, family and neighbors had subsided, Maddalyn’s father said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
I was far too engrossed by the outpouring of love I was receiving from my hometown.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Singer Rose says her honest outpourings aren't just limited to her songwriting, and she is "someone who's very myself online".
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
But none of these rules exist on the internet, where children exchange details, speculation and outpourings of grief unsupervised.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2023
Every song in her discographical universe matters, and any surprise song she chooses will invariably educe outpourings of jubilation.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2023
Such online outpourings of grief often presage additional violence, said Desmond Patton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who studies social media and firearm violence.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2023
Harry was an indispensable part of the mingled outpourings of jubilation and mourning, of grief and celebration.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
