pore
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
pores,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pored,
past participle, past
-
poring
present participle
-
to read or study with steady attention or application.
a scholar poring over a rare old manuscript.
-
to gaze earnestly or steadily.
to pore over a painting.
-
to meditate or ponder intently (usually followed by over, on, orupon ).
He pored over the strange events of the preceding evening.
- Synonyms:
- examine, peruse, scrutinize, ponder
noun
-
pores
plural
-
a minute opening or orifice, as in the skin or a leaf, for perspiration, absorption, etc.
-
a minute interstice, as in a rock.
noun
-
anatomy zoology any small opening in the skin or outer surface of an animal
-
botany any small aperture, esp that of a stoma through which water vapour and gases pass
-
any other small hole, such as a space in a rock, soil, etc
verb
-
(foll by over) to make a close intent examination or study (of a book, map, etc)
he pored over the documents for several hours
-
to think deeply (about)
he pored on the question of their future
-
rare to look earnestly or intently (at); gaze fixedly (upon)
-
A tiny opening, as one in an animal's skin or on the surface of a plant leaf or stem, through which liquids or gases may pass.
-
A space in soil, rock, or loose sediment that is not occupied by mineral matter and allows the passage or absorption of fluids, such as water, petroleum, or air.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
poresimple
-
poressimple
-
have poredperfect
-
has poredperfect
-
am poringprogressive
-
are poringprogressive
-
is poringprogressive
-
have been poringperfect progressive
-
has been poringperfect progressive
Past
-
poredsimple
-
had poredperfect
-
was poringprogressive
-
were poringprogressive
-
had been poringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pore1
1250–1300; Middle English pouren < ?
Origin of pore2
1350–1400; Middle English poore < Late Latin porus < Greek póros passage; see emporium, ford
Explanation
That trickle of sweat didn't just miraculously appear — it was secreted out of a pore, a really tiny opening on the surface of your skin. When used as a noun, pore means any tiny hole or opening that allows the passage of liquid. In humans, pores are the little holes that bring us such pleasures as armpit sweat and, when clogged, pimples. But when used as a verb, to pore means to concentrate your attention on or devote hours of focus to something: like poring over the overwhelming choices in the antiperspirant aisle.
Vocabulary lists containing pore
"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Front Desk
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The major networks each have their own decision desk where statisticians, political scientists and analysts pore over vote counts, historical trends and polling to determine a winner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
His film has ill will spewing from every pore, a complete loathing for humanity.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Both have large pore volumes and high specific surface areas, properties that make them well suited for trapping gas molecules.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Lenders and insurers will pore over the new maps; homeowners should study them too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Every pore was open to the action swirling around him, every vibration, every stirring, every cheer, every carnivorous roar.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
When starting a new treatment, some people can also experience skin purging: breakouts that happen when a product quickly brings clogged pores to the surface of the skin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
He pores over data every month about how people in the company are doing when it comes to key metrics such as innovation scores, growth and engagement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Visible pores, blackheads, blemishes, pigmentation, redness and scarring are all very normal for teenage skin, says Dr Kentley.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
That means fractures, pores, and other pathways through the rock could play a critical role in determining whether natural hydrogen can be generated efficiently enough to become a practical energy resource.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
When I’m nervous or sad I also fall prey to the awful itch from filaires, tiny parasites that crawl into your pores and cause a flare-up every so often.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
While it is expected to stand pat after last month's hike, its post-meeting statement and comments from boss Kevin Warsh will be pored over for clues about its future plans.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
In creating “Actually, Nevermind,” Tomlinson pored through her mother’s diary, deciding to include a few excerpts in the finished book.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Many had speculated that active managers would close the gap as they pored over a shrinking slice of the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
You can tell he loves his work and despite having pored over these documents for years, he's still awestruck by their content.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
It was slightly raised, and she had developed a habit of running her fingers along it as she pored over her books.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
Levine started by poring over the canvas in granular detail, particularly what he could see of the signature: J. Schul.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
I spent weeks at a time poring over old social media posts.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
One evening, poring through the picturesque archives at the Yale Club while researching her monograph on memory and mind palace theory, Béatrice stumbles upon a curious audiotape.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
Even now, poring through his footage, desperately looking for clues, McElwee pines for that larger view — the one that might somehow bring the boy back to his inconsolable father.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Many nights after the door was locked and the shutters closed, I sat on in the flickering gaslight, poring over old inventories and wholesalers’ statements.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
