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

While Kardashian pouted at the camera, True flashed a cheesy grin and Tatum smiled while appearing to look out of the window. —Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024

As stated above, Olson plays Morgan, single mother to pouting teen Ava (Amirah J), ultra-nerdy Elliot (Matthew Lamb) and baby Chloe (some babies). —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Sep. 2024

Noun

Combining the ease of lipstick with the precision of a liner, lip crayons make coloring your pout an easy task. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024

Some passengers read quietly in corners, stopping to glance up at the snow sparkling on Mount Nevado Verónica, while others side-eyed a Brazilian influencer perfecting her pout for the camera. —Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 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