pout

1 of 3

verb

ˈpau̇t 

pouted; pouting; pouts

intransitive verb

1

a

: to show displeasure by thrusting out the lips or wearing a sullen expression

a pouting child

Sure, you have sports figures misbehaving today. John McEnroe pouts and snarls and curses at tennis judges twice his age, on television …

—Roy Blount Jr.

b

: to push out or purse the lips in a sexually suggestive way

a pouting model

… appears in adverts surrounded by gorgeous, pouting blondes.

—The Economist

c

: to be moodily silent : sulk

If they invited her out, she declined the invitation. When they went out, she would be pouting when they came home.

—Susan Sheehan

2

: protrude

transitive verb

: to cause to protrude

pouted her lips

pout

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a protrusion of the lips expressive of displeasure

2

pouts plural : a fit of pique

pout

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural pout or pouts

: any of several large-headed fishes (such as a bullhead or eelpout)

Synonyms

Verb

• bag
• balloon
• beetle
• belly
• billow
• bulge
• bunch
• jut
• overhang
• poke
• pooch [chiefly dialect]
• pouch
• project
• protrude
• stand out
• start
• stick out
• swell

Noun (1)

• face
• frown
• grimace
• lower
• lour
• moue
• mouth
• mow
• mug
• scowl
• snoot

Examples of pout in a Sentence

Verb

She pouted her lips and stared at him angrily.

The boy didn't want to leave—he stomped his feet and pouted.

The model pouted for the cameras.

Her lips pouted, and she began to cry.

Noun (1)

that storekeeper's face seems to be in a permanent pout

she stayed in the pouts all day

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Flashes of absolute game-changing, field-flipping brilliance, followed by weeks of anonymity, peppered by pouting and social-media finger-pointing. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2024

In the clip, Swift leaned onto Weathersby with her arm on her shoulder as the pair pouted at the camera. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Noun

Gilded touches of gold eyeshadow accentuate the eyes, a touch of light-catching lip gloss enhances your heavenly pout and goddess nails add sparkle to your golden touch. —Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024

The Maximum Plump formula is the most intense of all Too Faced plumping glosses, delivering a serious pout thanks to a hefty dose of capsicum extract (a.k.a. chili pepper). —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

Noun (2)

probably from Middle English *poute, a fish with a large head, from Old English -pūte; akin to Middle English pouten to pout

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pout

• horned pout

Kids Definition

pout

1 of 2 verb

ˈpau̇t 

1

: to show displeasure by pushing out the lips

2

: sulk entry 1

pout

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of pouting

2

plural : a state of bad humor