- present participle of flow.
flowing
Americanadjective
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moving in or as in a stream.
flowing water.
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proceeding smoothly or easily; facile.
flowing language.
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long, smooth, graceful, and without sudden interruption or change of direction.
flowing lines; flowing gestures.
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hanging loosely at full length.
flowing hair.
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abounding; having in excess.
a land flowing with milk and honey.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flowing
before 950; Middle English flowynge, Old English flōwende. See flow, -ing 2
Explanation
Anything flowing moves like liquid, such as the flowing water of a river or someone’s long, flowing hair. Even a conversation can be flowing if people have a lot to say to each other. The adjective flowing is useful for describing things that drape gracefully, like Rapunzel's flowing hair or Cinderella's flowing gown. The sleek and streamlined movements of a ballet dancer might also be called flowing, and so can particularly graceful writing: "The poet's flowing lines beautifully evoked a summer afternoon." Flowing comes from flow, from a root meaning "to stream, melt, or become liquid."
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.
It functions like a one way gate, keeping blood from flowing backward into the upper chamber.
From Science Daily • Jul. 12, 2026
Gigi Hadid walking the outdoor runway in a black feather cocoon was a visual delight, with all looks showcasing flowing designs in a variety of textures and colours.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026
Iraq agreed to new controls to prevent U.S. dollars from flowing to Iran and its militia allies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026
The strikes aimed "to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor", it said.
From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026
Behind them the nereids came, walking, their silver hair flowing down onto the sand like wedding trains.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
