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:
"We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support and people putting on their boots to help."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 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
He added that the family wanted him to express their gratitude for the outpouring of support they’ve gotten during this time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 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
Yishan, however, pretended not to notice, and was just about to suggest changing direction when an outpouring of people began to cluster into view.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
But is the joint silence a sign that, after the years of public outpourings this next phase, perhaps one of reconciliation, will happen away from the cameras, without a fanfare?
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 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.
