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pour into

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To put a lot of something into a place or thing, like filling a cup or giving lots of effort to a project.

Literal meaning: Directing a liquid into the interior of a container — the figurative extension preserves the sense of filling something up.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To transfer a liquid into a container by pouring.

"He carefully poured the soup into the bowls before calling everyone to the table."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To invest large amounts of money, time, or effort into something.

"The company has poured millions into research and development over the past decade."

"We have poured money into weapons, but we've skimped on diplomacy."

— Barack Obama, speech to the UN General Assembly, 2009
Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

For crowds of people to move rapidly into a place.

"Fans poured into the stadium long before the match began."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The particle 'into' requires a named destination. Can be literal (pouring liquid into a vessel) or figurative (pouring money/effort into a project). Both uses are very natural in everyday and journalistic language.

Commonly used with

money resources effort energy research a bowl the economy

Forms

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

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Synonyms

channel into invest in pump into funnel into put into direct into

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