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Glite Dictionary
to well out

to well out

6.1
To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood
  • phrasal verb
  • /wɛl aʊt/
translation icon : salir a chorros
  • During the short wedding ceremony, he was crying, not openly, but still tears were welling out of his eyes and rolling down the side of his nose while he blinked.
  • blood wells out
  • tears welling out

Examples

  • I'm glad you guys are doing well out there, dude, and I'm glad you guys are keeping bees.

  • He watches, frozen, as blood wells out of her foot.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • My own tears welled out too.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • As though a silent cry welled out of her helplessness.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Dazzled by the light, I wanted to replace the stone upon the opening, but then a fluid welled out.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • In its eagerness, a sharp tooth cut the man's skin, and thick warm blood welled out.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Blood welled out from where the gyrfalcon's talons had pierced through the cloth to my skin.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "A hit!" cried Ethar, pointing to the drops of bright emerald green blood that were welling out of the lizard-beast's forearms.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • As she remembered her childhood, tears welled out of her eyes uncontrollably.

  • When he cut the apple, the juice welled out and dripped onto the table.

Synonyms

to stream
vsto well out
55 1.7

To flow out in large amounts, like liquid or tears

focuses specifically on a free, abundant movement of liquid or feeling
to spill out
vsto well out
26 3.6

Move out of a place suddenly in large numbers or fall out of a container and spread

describes a freer, ongoing emergence rather than a sudden spill
to gush
vsto well out
26 3.2

To flow out suddenly and forcefully, like blood from a wound

is less about sudden force and more about free abundant movement
to well
vsto well out
24 4.2

To rise up and flow out, as a liquid or feeling

is more about a free, large outflow than only gradual emergence
to pour out
vsto well out
18 2.9

Move out of a building in large numbers

stresses a free large outflow rather than just many things leaving
to flow out
vsto well out
16 2.9

Move or pour out in a steady stream, often a liquid

is about moving freely and in large amounts rather than mere outward motion
to spew out
vsto well out
15 5.9

To force out large amounts of something like smoke or words

denotes a free abundant outflow rather than violent, uncontrollable ejection
to pour out of
vsto well out
12 3.7

To leave a place quickly in large numbers

implies steady free outflow rather than a quick mass exit
to spout
vsto well out
9 3.7

To flow out quickly and forcefully in a strong stream

describes a calmer, freer emergence in large amounts instead of a jet

Antonyms

to trickle
70 3.4

To flow slowly in drops or a thin stream

to dry up
19 2.7

To lose all water or moisture so it has none left

How Strong

to gush
26 3.2
to pour
588 1.0
to well out
6.1
to flow
333 1.0
to seep
82 2.7
to trickle
70 3.4

Surface Forms

well out infinitive
welled out past
welled out past participle
welling out present participle
wells out third person singular

Morphology

well + out

The sense 'to flow out freely' is transparently composed from 'well' (to surge up/appear, often of liquids or emotions) plus 'out' (moving away from an interior). The combination simply indicates an outward surging or overflowing, a compositional pattern that a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer.

Etymology

Well out comes from the picture of water rising from a spring into a well and pushing out of the ground; when a liquid or a strong feeling builds up and then bursts up and flows out, it 'wells out'. So, it means 'to flow out freely'.