spout

1 of 2

verb

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
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
b
: the blowing of a whale
3
archaic : pawnshop
spouted adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
In recent years Ye has taken to sharing controversial political and social beliefs online, often spouting antisemitic screeds on X that valorize the swastika symbol and accusing Jews of being untrustworthy, among other things. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025 Hopkins has a blast with the role, spouting off soliloquies about right and wrong while gleefully pushing buttons that plunge Eddie into near-death scenarios from behind a curtain. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
Ferreira sobs hysterically, spouts horrific recounts of an abusive childhood, and slowly opens up, all in the span of a two-hour film. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025 Inside, a grid insert blends seamlessly and silently, while the screw-top lid and spout cap help prevent leaks. SELF, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spout

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spout was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spout. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

spout

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on spout

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