“Pore over” means to study or examine something carefully. “Pour over” means to cause liquid to flow over something, so it is a different literal phrase.
ReviewedEvidence2 sourcesSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
Pore over a report; pour coffee over ice. Use “pore over” when you mean reading or studying closely.
Key details
Canonical Formpore over
Contrast Formpour over
Core Meaningstudy or examine carefully
Variants
pore over
Dictionary-listed form for careful study.
pour over
Correct when liquid is being poured over something, not when reading closely.
Further guidance
Correct Form
Cambridge records “pore over” as the phrasal verb for studying something carefully. Grammarist distinguishes it from literal “pour over.”
Fast Test
Study closely → pore over. Cause liquid to flow → pour over.
Word Boundary
“Pour” is the liquid-flow verb; “pore” has a less common verb sense preserved in “pore over.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
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