Pour vs. Fill — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
Pour involves transferring a liquid or granular substance from one container to another using a stream, while fill means to make a space or container full by adding a substance until there is no more room.
Difference Between Pour and Fill
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pour typically refers to the action of causing a liquid or granular material to flow from one container into another, usually in a controlled manner that prevents spillage. Whereas, fill is used to describe the act of occupying a space or container with a material until it is completely saturated or cannot hold more.
Pouring is often associated with precision and control, especially when dealing with measurements or recipes in cooking and baking. On the other hand, filling a container may not require as much precision, focusing more on volume and capacity until the space is fully occupied.
The concept of pour is relevant in scenarios where the rate and volume of the flow can be adjusted, such as pouring a drink into a glass. Conversely, to fill something like a swimming pool or a gas tank suggests a cessation point when the container reaches its maximum capacity.
Pour is frequently used in a metaphorical sense, such as "pouring out feelings" or "pouring effort into a project," implying a deliberate and focused transfer or expression. Meanwhile, fill can also be metaphorical, as in "filling someone’s shoes" or "filling up one’s heart," but these expressions emphasize completeness or satisfaction.
In practical applications, pour requires a source and a destination and is inherently a dynamic action. Fill, however, emphasizes the end state of being full and is more static, focusing on the condition after the action has been completed.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To cause to flow from a container in a steady stream
To occupy to the extent that there is no more space
Precision
Often requires control and accuracy
More concerned with reaching full capacity
Usage Context
Typically liquids and granules
Any material, including solids, liquids, and gases
Metaphorical Use
Implies transfer or expression
Implies completeness or satisfaction
Outcome Focus
The act of transferring
The state of being full
Compare with Definitions
Pour
To transfer liquid from one container to another.
He poured milk into his coffee.
Fill
To make full by putting as much as can be held into.
She filled the glass with water.
Pour
To allocate resources or effort into something.
She poured her savings into the new business.
Fill
To satisfy a need or requirement.
This role fills a critical gap in our team.
Pour
To come or go continuously in a steady stream.
Fans poured into the stadium for the concert.
Fill
To occupy a particular amount of space.
The furniture fills the room nicely.
Pour
To express emotions freely.
He poured his heart out in the letter.
Fill
To complete by providing required information.
Fill in the form carefully.
Pour
To rain heavily.
It started to pour just as we left the house.
Fill
To take up a position or role adequately.
He filled the position of manager for five years.
Pour
To cause (a liquid or granular solid) to stream or flow, as from a container
Poured tea from the pot into the cup.
Fill
To put something into (a container, for example) to capacity or to a desired level
Fill a glass with milk.
Filled the tub with water.
Pour
To pour a liquid or particles into (a container)
Poured a glass of milk.
Fill
To supply or provide to the fullest extent
Filled the mall with new stores.
Pour
To empty (a container) of a liquid or granular solid
Poured a bucket of sand on the ground.
Fill
To build up the level of (low-lying land) with material such as earth or gravel.
Pour
To send forth, produce, express, or utter copiously, as if in a stream or flood
Poured money into the project.
Poured out my inner thoughts.
Fill
To stop or plug up (an opening, for example).
Pour
To stream or flow continuously or profusely
Water poured over the dam.
Fill
To repair a cavity of (a tooth).
Pour
To rain hard or heavily
It has been pouring for an hour.
Fill
To add a foreign substance to (cloth or wood, for example).
Pour
To pass or proceed in large numbers or quantity
Students poured into the auditorium.
Fill
To flow or move into (a container or area), often to capacity
Water is filling the basement. Fans are filling the stadium.
Pour
To serve a beverage, such as tea or coffee, to a gathering
We need someone to pour.
Fill
To pervade
Music filled the room.
Pour
A pouring or flowing forth, especially a downpour of rain.
Fill
To satiate, as with food and drink
The guests filled themselves with pie.
Pour
(transitive) To cause (liquid, or liquid-like substance) to flow in a stream, either out of a container or into it.
Pour water from a jug
Pour wine into a decanter
To pour oil onto chips
To pour out sand or dust.
Fill
To engage or occupy completely
A song that filled me with nostalgia.
Pour
To send out as in a stream or a flood; to cause (an emotion) to come out; to cause to escape.
My teacher poured scorn on my attempts at writing.
Fill
To satisfy or meet; fulfill
Fill the requirements.
Pour
(transitive) To send forth from, as in a stream; to discharge uninterruptedly.
Fill
To supply what is specified by or required for
Fill a prescription.
Fill an order.
Pour
(intransitive) To flow, pass or issue in a stream; to fall continuously and abundantly.
The rain poured down.
Fill
To put a person into (a job or position)
We filled the job with a new hire.
Pour
(impersonal) To rain hard.
It's pouring outside.
Fill
To discharge the duties of; occupy
How long has she filled that post?.
Pour
(intransitive) Of a beverage, to be on tap or otherwise available for serving to customers.
Fill
To cover the surface of (an inexpensive metal) with a layer of precious metal, such as gold.
Pour
(intransitive) To move in a throng, as a crowd.
The people poured out of the theater.
Fill
To cause (a sail) to swell.
Pour
The act of pouring.
The bartender's inexpert pour left me with a pint of beer that was half foam.
Fill
To adjust (a yard) so that wind will cause a sail to swell.
Pour
Something, or an amount, poured.
Fill
To become full
The basement is filling with water.
Pour
(colloquial) A downpour, or flood of precipitation.
Fill
An amount needed to make full, complete, or satisfied
Eat one's fill.
Pour
Poor.
Fill
Material for filling a container, cavity, or passage.
Pour
To pore.
Fill
A built-up piece of land; an embankment.
Pour
To cause to flow in a stream, as a liquid or anything flowing like a liquid, either out of a vessel or into it; as, to pour water from a pail; to pour wine into a decanter; to pour oil upon the waters; to pour out sand or dust.
Fill
The material, such as earth or gravel, used for this.
Pour
To send forth as in a stream or a flood; to emit; to let escape freely or wholly.
I . . . have poured out my soul before the Lord.
Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee.
London doth pour out her citizens !
Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forthWith such a full and unwithdrawing hand ?
Fill
(transitive) To occupy fully, to take up all of.
Pour
To send forth from, as in a stream; to discharge uninterruptedly.
Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat ?
Fill
(transitive) To add contents to (a container, cavity, or the like) so that it is full.
Pour
To flow, pass, or issue in a stream, or as a stream; to fall continuously and abundantly; as, the rain pours; the people poured out of the theater.
In the rude throng pour on with furious pace.
Fill
To enter (something), making it full.
Pour
A stream, or something like a stream; a flood.
Fill
(intransitive) To become full.
The bucket filled with rain;
The sails fill with wind
Pour
Cause to run;
Pour water over the floor
Fill
(intransitive) To become pervaded with something.
My heart filled with joy.
Pour
Move in large numbers;
People were pouring out of the theater
Beggars pullulated in the plaza
Fill
(transitive) To satisfy or obey (an order, request, or requirement).
The pharmacist filled my prescription for penicillin.
We can't let the library close! It fills a great need in the community.
Pour
Pour out;
The sommelier decanted the wines
Fill
(transitive) To install someone, or be installed, in (a position or office), eliminating a vacancy.
Sorry, no more applicants. The position has been filled.
Pour
Flow in a spurt;
Water poured all over the floor
Fill
(transitive) To treat (a tooth) by adding a dental filling to it.
Dr. Smith filled Jim's cavity with silver amalgam.
Pour
Supply in large amounts or quantities;
We poured money into the education of our children
Fill
(transitive) To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Pour
Rain heavily;
Put on your rain coat-- it's pouring outside!
Fill
To trim (a yard) so that the wind blows on the after side of the sails.
Fill
(after a possessive) A sufficient or more than sufficient amount.
Don't feed him any more: he's had his fill.
Fill
An amount that fills a container.
The mixer returned to the plant for another fill.
Fill
The filling of a container or area.
That machine can do 20 fills a minute.
This paint program supports lines, circles, and textured fills.
Fill
Inexpensive material used to occupy empty spaces, especially in construction.
The ruins of earlier buildings were used as fill for more recent construction.
Fill
(archaeology) Soil and/or human-created debris discovered within a cavity or cut in the layers and exposed by excavation; fill soil.
Fill
An embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Fill
(music) A short passage, riff, or rhythmic sound that helps to keep the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody.
Bass fill
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
Fill
A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives complete satisfaction.
I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill.
Fill
That which fills; filling; filler; specif., an embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Fill
To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained; to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the whole capacity of.
The rain also filleth the pools.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled them up to the brim.
Fill
To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun.
And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas.
The Syrians filled the country.
Fill
To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso great a multitude?
Things that are sweet and fat are more filling.
Fill
To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.
Fill
To supply with an incumbent; as, to fill an office or a vacancy.
Fill
To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails.
Fill
To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place), with earth or gravel.
Fill
To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an abundant supply; to be satiated; as, corn fills well in a warm season; the sail fills with the wind.
Fill
To fill a cup or glass for drinking.
Give me some wine; fill full.
Fill
A quantity sufficient to satisfy;
He ate his fill of potatoes
She had heard her fill of gossip
Fill
Any material that fills a space or container;
There was not enough fill for the trench
Fill
Make full, also in a metaphorical sense;
Fill a container
Fill the child with pride
Fill
Become full;
The pool slowly filled with water
The theater filled up slowly
Fill
Occupy the whole of;
The liquid fills the container
Fill
Assume, as of positions or roles;
She took the job as director of development
Fill
Fill or meet a want or need
Fill
Appoint someone to (a position or a job)
Fill
Eat until one is sated;
He filled up on turkey
Fill
Fill to satisfaction;
I am sated
Fill
Plug with a substance;
Fill a cavity
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to pour something?
Pouring involves transferring a substance, typically a liquid, from one container to another through a steady stream.
Can fill be used in a non-physical context?
Yes, it can be used metaphorically, such as "filling a role" or "filling someone's expectations."
How do you define fill?
Fill means to make a space or container fully occupied by adding a substance until no additional can be added.
Is pouring always related to liquids?
Primarily, yes, though granular substances like sugar or rice can also be poured.
Is it correct to say 'pour the bag with rice'?
No, the correct expression would be 'pour rice into the bag.'
What is the difference between pouring and filling a glass with water?
Pouring refers to the act of moving water into the glass, while filling describes the state of the glass when it can hold no more water.
Is pouring applicable only in cooking?
No, it applies in any context where liquid or granular substances are transferred.
What are some tools used for pouring?
Funnels, spouts, or ladles are commonly used to aid pouring.
Is there a risk of overfilling?
Yes, overfilling can occur if the capacity is exceeded, potentially leading to spillage or inefficiency.
What tools might be used to help fill something?
Scoops, pumps, or shovels, depending on the substance.
Which action is faster, pouring or filling?
Pouring can be faster as it's a direct action, but the speed of filling depends on the volume and the means used.
Can you use fill when referring to gases?
Yes, for example, filling a balloon with helium.
Does pouring require any special skills?
Basic coordination and attention to the flow and aim are generally required.
How does one typically stop filling something?
By ceasing to add more material once the container or space is full.
How is precision achieved when filling?
Through careful measurement and monitoring of the volume or level of the content being added.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
