flow
Americanverb (used without object)
-
flows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flowed,
past participle, past
-
flowing
present participle
-
to move along in a stream.
The river flowed slowly to the sea.
-
to circulate.
blood flowing through one's veins.
-
to stream or well forth.
Warmth flows from the sun.
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to issue or proceed from a source.
Orders flowed from the office.
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to menstruate.
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to come or go as in a stream.
A constant stream of humanity flowed by.
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to proceed continuously and smoothly.
Melody flowed from the violin.
- Synonyms:
- run
-
to hang loosely at full length.
Her hair flowed over her shoulders.
-
to abound in something.
The tavern flowed with wine.
- Synonyms:
- teem
-
to rise and advance, as the tide (opposed to ebb).
verb (used with object)
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flows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
flowed,
past participle, past
-
flowing
present participle
-
to cause or permit to flow.
to flow paint on a wall before brushing.
-
to cover with water or other liquid; flood.
noun
-
flows
plural
-
an act of flowing.
-
movement in or as if in a stream.
-
the rate of flowing.
-
the volume of fluid that flows through a passage of any given section during a unit of time.
Oil flow of the well was 500 barrels a day.
-
something that flows; stream.
-
an outpouring or discharge of something, as in a stream.
a flow of blood.
-
an overflowing; flood.
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the rise of the tide (opposed to ebb).
-
Machinery. progressive distortion of a metal object under continuous service at high temperature.
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Physics. the transference of energy.
heat flow.
verb
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(of liquids) to move or be conveyed as in a stream
-
(of blood) to circulate around the body
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to move or progress freely as if in a stream
the crowd flowed into the building
-
to proceed or be produced continuously and effortlessly
ideas flowed from her pen
-
to show or be marked by smooth or easy movement
-
to hang freely or loosely
her hair flowed down her back
-
to be present in abundance
wine flows at their parties
-
an informal word for menstruate
-
(of tide water) to advance or rise Compare ebb
-
(tr) to cover or swamp with liquid; flood
-
(of rocks such as slate) to yield to pressure without breaking so that the structure and arrangement of the constituent minerals are altered
noun
-
the act, rate, or manner of flowing
a fast flow
-
a continuous stream or discharge
-
continuous progression
-
the advancing of the tide
-
a stream of molten or solidified lava
-
the amount of liquid that flows in a given time
-
an informal word for menstruation
-
-
a marsh or swamp
-
an inlet or basin of the sea
-
( capital when part of a name )
Scapa Flow
-
-
natural happiness
Usage
What is basic definition of flow? Flow means to move along in a stream, as water does. Flow also means to circulate, as air does. Flow is used as a noun to mean movement as if in a stream. Flow has several other senses as a verb and a noun. When something flows, it moves like water in a stream. When used literally, flow is almost always used to describe the movement of liquids or things that act like fluids. Flow is also often used figuratively to mean to move smoothly like water or a liquid.
- Real-life examples: Water flows through pipes. Magma flows out of a volcano. People hope traffic flows through a city so they don’t get stuck in a traffic jam.
- Used in a sentence: Roger lied so much that the lies flowed out of his mouth.
- Used in a sentence: The huge dam redirects the flow of the river away from the city.
- Used in a sentence: The heart makes sure blood flows throughout the body.
- Used in a sentence: A flow of shoppers streamed into the mall.
Synonym Usage
Flow, gush, spout, spurt refer to certain of the movements characteristic of fluids. Flow is the general term: Water flows. A stream of blood flows. To gush is to rush forth copiously from a cavity, in as large a volume as can issue therefrom, as the result of some strong impelling force: The water will gush out if the main breaks. Spout and spurt both imply the ejecting of a liquid from a cavity by some internal impetus given to it. Spout implies a rather steady, possibly well-defined, jet or stream, not necessarily of long duration but always of considerable force: A whale spouts. Spurt implies a forcible, possibly sudden, spasmodic, or intermittent issue or jet: The liquid spurted out suddenly when the bottle cap was pushed in. Spout applies only to liquids; the other terms apply also to gases.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flowsimple
-
flowssimple
-
have flowedperfect
-
has flowedperfect
-
am flowingprogressive
-
are flowingprogressive
-
is flowingprogressive
-
have been flowingperfect progressive
-
has been flowingperfect progressive
Past
-
flowedsimple
-
had flowedperfect
-
was flowingprogressive
-
were flowingprogressive
-
had been flowingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flow
First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English flowen, Old English flōwan; akin to Middle Low German vlōien, Old Norse flōa; (noun) late Middle English: “surge of a wave,” derivative of the verb
Explanation
The word flow has many shades of meaning but most involve the steady movement of something. Water can flow in a river, electricity can flow through a wire, and talk might also flow as you sit and chat with friends. The verb flow often describes the movement of fluids, such as water or even blood, but it can also describe other things that move in a constant stream. When you get that high-paying job, money might flow into your bank account. Until then, offers for help might flow in when you need to pay your credit card bill. Flow has a noun form as well. You might watch the flow of traffic on the street.
Vocabulary lists containing flow
"Death, be not proud" by John Donne
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Water at Work"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Irrigation Pumps Can Save Poor Farmers"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“You’ve probably got the most negative flow picture for the U.S. stock market that we’ve had since 2002.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Strong coal prices are supporting Whitehaven’s cash generation and free cash flow yields, MS says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The new cash flow target and payout ratio are the main positives, but China and U.S. tariffs cap the upside, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Their findings suggest that even relatively small changes to some of the universe's most basic physical constants could dramatically alter how liquids flow, potentially preventing essential biological processes from taking place.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
There may have been others on the bank and in the space behind them, but they would have washed away with the ebb and flow of the tide.
From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins
Including shipments from terminals in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, regional oil flows averaged 17.6 million barrels a day over the past week, about 24% below prewar levels, Kpler said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
However, refined product flows remain largely constrained, with diesel supply balances very tight, said McNally.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
Higher rates reduce the present value of future cash flows.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026
About 56% of the water from the State Water Project flows to urban areas, while 44% is used for agriculture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
I watch as it flows down the river.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The bulk of that cash flowed to established startups with previous funding rounds and more developed products, Sasson said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
In his two-decade career, Deol’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Conversation flowed freely with their fellow Tigrayans in the TPF, who had taken up positions on the avenues and several key sites, including the northern region's presidency building and the police headquarters.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
The investment boom inspired by the artificial-intelligence build-out is increasing competition for investment capital that might have otherwise flowed into the Treasury market.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
The water flowed faster and faster, and soon it was running at a furious speed.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
The horses of the Griffith Park merry-go-round are known for their flowing manes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Viscosity describes how strongly a fluid resists flowing.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
It has coincided in a big rise of UK investment money flowing into US stocks in search of better returns.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Capital can continue flowing even as the collateral supporting some loans becomes harder to value.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The glacial water seeps into my boots, and suddenly I feel like I am back in my pod on the first day on the ship, stasis gel flowing over me.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
