1 B1 neutral
To clean the inside of a container or vessel by scrubbing it vigorously.
"She scoured out the old cast-iron pot before using it for the first time."
separable
scour out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To clean the inside of something thoroughly by scrubbing hard, or (of water/erosion) to hollow out a cavity.
In plain English
To scrub the inside of something really hard until it is totally clean, or for water to dig out a hole over time.
What does "scour out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
Of water, wind, or natural forces: to erode and hollow out a depression, channel, or cave over time.
"Over thousands of years, the river had scoured out a deep gorge through the limestone."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scour (scrub hard) something out (removing its contents or interior).
Actually means
To scrub the inside of something really hard until it is totally clean, or for water to dig out a hole over time.
Usage tip
Used both literally (scrubbing pots, pans, containers) and in geological/natural contexts (rivers scouring out valleys). The literal household sense is slightly old-fashioned; more common in cooking or outdoor contexts.
Words that pair with "scour out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pan pot bowl valley channel cave
How to conjugate "scour out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scour out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scours out
he/she/it
Past simple
scoured out
yesterday
Past participle
scoured out
have + pp
-ing form
scouring out
continuous
Hear "scour out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "scour out"
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