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pour in

B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words

When lots of things or people come in all at the same time, like water filling a bucket.

Literal meaning: Liquid being directed into a space — naturally extended to mean any large inflow.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

For large numbers of people, messages, or amounts of money to arrive continuously.

"After the charity appeal aired, donations poured in from across the country."

"Letters poured in from all over the world."

— The Guardian (2012), reporting on public response to the Leveson Inquiry
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To add a liquid into something in a continuous stream.

"She poured in the milk slowly, stirring the mixture as she went."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To invest or put large amounts of money or resources into something.

"The government has poured billions of dollars in to revitalise the region."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Often used in news and media to describe large-scale arrivals — of donations, complaints, refugees, sunlight, etc. Can be used literally (liquid entering a container) or figuratively (people, money, responses). Commonly appears in passive constructions when transitive.

Commonly used with

donations complaints light money refugees requests emails

Forms

Base
pour in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pours in
he/she/it
Past simple
poured in
yesterday
Past participle
poured in
have + pp
-ing form
pouring in
continuous

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Synonyms

flood in stream in flow in rush in roll in come flooding in

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