Pore over means study something closely and for a long time: the researchers pored over old shipping records. People pore over contracts, maps, notes and figures, looking for details and checking facts. I spent the evening poring over the route map. Pore sounds the same as pour, and in writing the two often get mixed up.
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pore over a document / map / figures; pored; poring
- The researchers pored over old shipping records.
- I spent the evening poring over the route map.
- She pores over every contract before signing it.
What changed
First versionHe poured over the report, looking for missing figures.
RevisionHe pored over the report, looking for missing figures.
Pour and pore sound the same, and the more familiar poured comes out first. But pour is about liquid. Studying closely is pore: he pored over the report. In the -ing form, the final e drops: poring.
Look through means skim or flip through: look through a magazine. Go over means check or review again: go over your notes. Pore over means sit with a text for a long time, fully focused: she pored over the contract for an hour.
Your turn
Choose the verb meaning study carefully: She spent an hour ___ over the old letters.
Show the answer
poring — Studying closely is poring over. Pouring is about liquid, even though it sounds the same.
Describe a document, map or photo you once pored over, and what you were looking for.
We pored over the photographs to identify the building behind the station.
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