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outpouring

/ˌaʊtˈpɔrɪŋ/

/ˈaʊtpɔrɪŋ/

Other forms: outpourings

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."

Definitions of outpouring
  1. noun
    the pouring forth of a fluid
    synonyms: discharge, run
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    types:
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    jet, spirt, spurt, squirt
    the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)
    escape, leak, leakage, outflow
    the discharge of a fluid from some container
    spray
    a jet of vapor
    spritz
    a quick squirt of some liquid (usually carbonated water)
    type of:
    flow, flowing
    the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
  2. noun
    a large flow
    synonyms: flood, overflow
    see moresee less
    types:
    effusion
    flow under pressure
    type of:
    flow, stream
    the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression
  3. noun
    a natural flow of ground water
    synonyms: fountain, natural spring, outflow, spring
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    examples:
    Old Faithful
    a geyser in Yellowstone National Park that erupts for about 4 minutes about every 65 minutes
    types:
    Fountain of Youth
    a fountain described in folk tales as able to make people young again
    geyser
    a spring that discharges hot water and steam
    hot spring, thermal spring
    a natural spring of water at a temperature of 70 F or above
    type of:
    formation, geological formation
    (geology) the geological features of the earth
  4. noun
    a sudden rapid flow (as of water)
    “she attacked him with an outpouring of words”
    synonyms: flush, gush
    see moresee less
    types:
    springtide
    a swelling rush of anything
    type of:
    flow, flowing
    the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
  5. noun
    the rapid and continuous delivery of linguistic communication (spoken or written)
    synonyms: barrage, bombardment, onslaught
    see moresee less
    type of:
    language, linguistic communication
    a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘outpouring'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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