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
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
Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
If the pass wasn’t sweet enough to reverse the sour taste from Decision Day last year, the finish sure was.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025
Brad Japhe, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
The kicky Pimento Colada and Jersey sour with a red wine float are two unique cocktails.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Ryan Browne, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
Options could include former Minnesota Vikings signal-caller Sam Darnold, whose career resurgence in 2024 was soured by a pair of losses to end the season; or Kirk Cousins, who was a splashy offseason signing in Atlanta one year ago only to lose his starting job.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
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
However, asking more leaves a sour taste with the employer.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
If the pass wasn’t sweet enough to reverse the sour taste from Decision Day last year, the finish sure was.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
It’s shaken dry with an egg white substitute, so unlike an actual sour, this one can also be enjoyed by vegans.
—Brad Japhe, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
The kicky Pimento Colada and Jersey sour with a red wine float are two unique cocktails.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
However, relations between the U.S. and Ukraine have soured recently following the election of President Donald Trump.
—Ryan Browne, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
Options could include former Minnesota Vikings signal-caller Sam Darnold, whose career resurgence in 2024 was soured by a pair of losses to end the season; or Kirk Cousins, who was a splashy offseason signing in Atlanta one year ago only to lose his starting job.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sour
Cite this Entry
“Sour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sour. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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