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:
But the outpouring of sympathy from the British people, including the “political class” Mr. Swaim excoriates, was immediate and sympathetic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
"But we'll also never forget the friendship the British people showed us with an outpouring of letters and flowers from all over the country."
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 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
Altamirano said in an email that he’s running again because of a “tremendous outpouring of support” he has received from City of Commerce residents asking him to run again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Swept up in an outpouring of patriotic fervor, young men flocked to recruiting stations all over Europe.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Those watching Chinese social media platforms will be monitoring the outpourings of sadness and shock online, as ordinary people remember him.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 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
The outpourings have made him feel that he has lived—and was still living—a worthy life.
From Slate ● Jun. 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.
