Pore vs. Pour
“Pore” and “pour” sound alike but differ in meaning. In the phrasal verb “pore over,” “pore” means to study something carefully. “Pour” means to make liquid or another substance flow.
Write “pore over” for careful study: “She pored over the report.” Write “pour” for flowing liquid: “Pour the water into the glass.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| If you mean / need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| study a document or text carefully | pore over | This is the established phrasal verb. |
| make liquid flow | pour | Pour is the liquid-flow verb. |
Further guidance
Core difference
The expression for studying something carefully is “pore over,” not “pour over.” “Pour” is the verb for making liquid or another substance flow.
Fast Test
If you mean “study carefully,” write “pore over.” If liquid is flowing, write “pour.”
Spelling Note
The -ing forms preserve the distinction: “poring over the report” versus “pouring water.”
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.
- Pore over something — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Phrasal-verb meaning of pore over: study carefully
- Pour — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Modern verb senses of pour