ebb and flow

Idioms  

1. A decline and increase, constant fluctuations. For example, He was fascinated by the ebb and flow of the Church's influence over the centuries. This expression alludes to the inward and outward movement of ocean tides. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ebb and flow

Perhaps this existence is more about riding the ebb and flow than it is mapping the course.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

While demand may ebb and flow, it rarely disappears overnight, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Here the selection of objects brings the ebb and flow of ideas and influences vividly to life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Research suggests that pills which flatten the natural ebb and flow of fertility can dampen shifts in attraction that typically occur across the menstrual cycle, potentially altering initial mate choice.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026

Wind could gust and waves could crash and currents could ebb and flow, but that station wouldn’t budge as long as its engines were active.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• oscillate
• seesaw
• vary
• veer
• waver