1
: being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids and is characteristic of lemon juice
sour pickles
compare bitter entry 1 sense 1a, salty entry 1 sense 1b, sweet entry 1 sense 1, umami entry 2
2
3
a
c
: not up to the usual, expected, or standard quality or pitch
4
: acid in reaction
—used especially of soil
5
: containing malodorous sulfur compounds
—used especially of petroleum products
1
a
: something sour
… they assimilated many Anglo-American sweet pickles and began adding more sugar to their sours.—
William Woys Weaver
William Woys Weaver
b
: the taste sensation produced chiefly by acids compare bitter entry 2 sense 1b, salty entry 2, sweet entry 3 sense 2, umami entry 1
2
: a cocktail consisting of a liquor (such as whiskey), lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes ice
soured; souring; sours
: to become sour
: to make sour
Synonyms
Examples of sour in a Sentence
Adjective
The milk had turned sour.
He made a sour face.
Verb
Her disposition has soured in recent years.
Jealousy has soured their relationship.
His experiences have soured him.
The team's victory was soured by an injury to one of their best players.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Cain, Harvard Business Review, 23 Oct. 2024
The gist: Slightly sour juicy fruit soaks into a batter of heavy butter, sugar and eggs, creating a sturdy dessert.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 13 Oct. 2024
John Frank, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
Deftly twisting between two women in fedora hats, a waiter handed me a pisco sour.
—Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
But the relationship between the two continued to sour, with Gallant criticizing Netanyahu for failing to put forward a vision for the Gaza Strip after Israel defeated Hamas, and failing to reach a cease-fire deal to release hostages held by Hamas.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sour 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Your bag should include something with strong tastes like sour, bitter, or salty to stimulate the vagus nerve at the back of the tongue, which may help promote a calming effect.
—Nicole Cain, Harvard Business Review, 23 Oct. 2024
The gist: Slightly sour juicy fruit soaks into a batter of heavy butter, sugar and eggs, creating a sturdy dessert.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
The brewery does not make hazy IPAs, big adjunct stouts or fruit-forward sours — all favorites among the craft beer crowd.
—John Frank, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
Deftly twisting between two women in fedora hats, a waiter handed me a pisco sour.
—Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
Putin is reluctant to order another large-scale mobilization that might sour Russians on the war.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
But the relationship between the two continued to sour, with Gallant criticizing Netanyahu for failing to put forward a vision for the Gaza Strip after Israel defeated Hamas, and failing to reach a cease-fire deal to release hostages held by Hamas.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sour
Dictionary Entries Near sour
Cite this Entry
“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sour. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sour
1 of 3 adjective1
: having or being an acid or tart taste that is one of the four taste sensations compare bitter sense 1, salt entry 3 sense 1b, sweet entry 1 sense 1b
2
a
: having become acid through spoiling
sour milk
b
: indicating decay : putrid
a sour odor
3
: unpleasant, disagreeable
a sour look
played a sour note
4
: acid in reaction
sour soil
sourly
adverb
sourness
noun
sour
2 of 3 noun1
a
: something sour
b
: the basic taste sensation produced by acid stimuli
2
: a cocktail made with liquor, lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes soda water
sour
3 of 3 verb
: to become or make sour
Medical Definition
sour
1 of 2 adjective
: causing, characterized by, or being the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids compare bitter, salt entry 2 sense 2, sweet entry 1
sourness
noun
sour
2 of 2 noun
: the primary taste sensation produced by acid stimuli
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share