spout

1 of 2

verb

ˈspau̇t 

spouted; spouting; spouts

transitive verb

1

: to eject (liquid) in a stream

wells spouting oil

2

a

: to speak or utter readily, volubly, and at length

b

: to speak or utter in a pompous or oratorical manner : declaim

a candidate spouting empty promises

intransitive verb

1

: to issue with force or in a jet : spurt

2

: to eject material (such as liquid) in a jet

3

: declaim

spouter noun

spout

2 of 2

noun

1

: a pipe or conductor through which a liquid is discharged or conveyed in a stream: such as

a

: a pipe for carrying rainwater from a roof

b

: a projecting tube or lip from which a liquid (such as water) issues

2

: a discharge or jet of liquid or moisture from or as if from a pipe: such as

a

: waterspout

b

: the blowing of a whale

3

archaic : pawnshop

spouted

ˈspau̇-təd 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• gush
• jet
• pour
• rush
• spew
• spurt
• squirt
• swoosh

Noun

• drainpipe
• eaves trough
• gutter
• rainspout
• trough
• waterspout

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Verb

The well was spouting oil.

She kept spouting on and on about politics.

Noun

Water was flowing from the spout.

the spout of a tea kettle

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Edward isn’t the only person on the show who spouts this nonsense, though, which makes the world of Prime Target so oddly endearing. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025

Sadaf spouts a tautology — faith as faith — that also holds for patriotism. —Armond White, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025

Noun

Water spouts from the mouths of Shrek's ogre offspring whilst the display is crowned by Toothless, the cat-like dragon from the How To Train Your Dragon movies. —Caroline Reid, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

During high tide, waves spray skyward through limestone rock crevices, creating natural water spouts and giving the preserve its name. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spoiten to spout, Old English spīwan to spew

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spout

• up the spout

Kids Definition

spout

1 of 2 verb

ˈspau̇t 

1

: to shoot (as liquid) out with force

wells spouting oil

2

: to speak with a long and quick flow of words so as to sound important

3

: to flow out with force : spurt

blood spouted from the wound

spouter noun

spout

2 of 2 noun

1

: a tube, pipe, or hole through which something (as rainwater) spouts

2

: a sudden strong stream of fluid