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:
When the chef announced on Instagram that he—and Noma—would soon return to Copenhagen, the post drew an outpouring of support.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The letter received an outpouring of support online.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Student unions, Left groups and organisations such as the Bhim Army, a Dalit rights group, were present, but they were ultimately "outnumbered by an organic outpouring of students from all over the country".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
“The outpouring of love I received helped me to realize that her short time on this earth left an impact that could never be forgotten.”
From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026
“I was sure there would be an outpouring of goodwill.”
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Sentencing Methven, judge Lord Matthews told him he had "rarely heard such outpourings of grief as in the victim impact statements".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2025
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
And just as with Delvey, whose story spawned dueling TV series and endless outpourings of ironic adulation, the fascination with Santos has now taken on an air of mordant admiration.
From Slate ● May 16, 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.
