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:
PC Harper's death was brutal and devastating, causing shock, anger and an outpouring of grief across the country.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
“I think the community outpouring really got officials to change their mind because they have not seen something of this magnitude done in Prince George’s County,” said McCollum.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Many of you have reached out with concern for Perez, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” the statement issued via Hilton’s online gossip site read.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
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
Some remarkable process must be responsible for the vast outpouring of energy in a quasar.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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
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.
