pour in

pour in — phrasal verb

  • pour inbase form
  • pours in3rd person singular
  • pouring in-ing form
  • poured inpast simple

1. to keep arriving in very large amounts or numbers, more than expected and one af

1.phrasal verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to keep arriving in very large amounts or numbers, more than expected and one after another

Example

Donations poured in after Yael shared the family's story online.

subject is a mass noun (donations / money / letters)

Messages of support poured in from fans all over Asia.

collocation: pour in from [place or group]

Common collocations
  • money pours in
  • letters pour in
  • donations pour in
  • offers pour in
Synonyms
  • flood in

    stronger; suggests an unstoppable wave

  • stream in

    steady continuous flow rather than a sudden surge

  • flow in

    more neutral, less sense of overwhelming amount

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[things or people] pour in

Usage Note

Subject is usually a plural or mass noun for the things arriving (money, letters, fans), not a single person. Often followed by 'from' naming the source.

Common Mistakes

My uncle poured in to the party late.
Guests poured in to the party once the music started.
for a single person arriving, use 'turn up' or 'show up', not 'pour in'.

2. to add a liquid into a container or mixture by tipping it from another container

2.phrasal verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to add a liquid into a container or mixture by tipping it from another container

Example

Élise warmed the pan, then poured in the eggs and stirred.

pour in + [liquid object]

Niran tasted the soup and poured in a little more water.

Common collocations
  • pour in the water
  • pour in the oil
  • pour in the batter
  • slowly pour in
Synonyms
  • add

    general; doesn't show the tipping action

  • tip in

    informal; suggests a quicker, less careful pour

Antonyms
  • pour out

    tip liquid out of the container instead of into it

  • drain

    let liquid run out and empty the container

Grammar Patterns

pour in [liquid]

pour [liquid] in

Usage Note

Object is always a liquid or fine substance (water, oil, sand, flour). The container is understood from context, not stated again after 'in'.

Common Mistakes

She poured in the heavy box onto the truck.
She poured in the sand to fill the box.
'pour in' needs something that flows, not a solid object.

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Combines the everyday verb 'pour' (to make a liquid flow steadily out of a container) with the adverb 'in' (meaning into a place or container). The literal 'add liquid' meaning came first; the figurative sense — large amounts of things arriving like flowing water — grew from it, picturing letters or money moving in a steady stream.