1 A2 neutral
To direct a liquid so that it flows over the surface of something.
"Pour the caramel sauce over the warm pudding just before serving."
inseparable
pour over
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To pour liquid over the surface of something; NOTE: often confused with 'pore over' (to study carefully).
In plain English
To let liquid flow over the top of something; don't mix it up with 'pore over,' which means to read something very carefully.
What does "pour over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
(Coffee brewing) A manual method where hot water is slowly poured over coffee grounds in a filter.
"He spent five minutes making a pour-over coffee, measuring the water temperature precisely."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Directing liquid so that it flows across the top of an object — fully transparent and non-idiomatic.
Actually means
To let liquid flow over the top of something; don't mix it up with 'pore over,' which means to read something very carefully.
Usage tip
As a phrasal verb, 'pour over' is literal — it means to pour liquid across or onto something (e.g., pour sauce over pasta). It is very frequently confused in writing with 'pore over' (to study), which is a separate verb. Learners should note that 'pore over a book' is always 'pore,' never 'pour.' 'Pour over' coffee (a brewing method) is a well-known culinary compound noun in American English.
Words that pair with "pour over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sauce gravy dressing syrup hot water coffee grounds
How to conjugate "pour over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pour over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pours over
he/she/it
Past simple
poured over
yesterday
Past participle
poured over
have + pp
-ing form
pouring over
continuous
Hear "pour over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "pour over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "pour over"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
douse drench drizzle over ladle over spoon over
Keep exploring
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