flow

1 of 2

verb

flowed; flowing; flows

intransitive verb

1
a(1)
: to issue or move in a stream
rivers flow into the sea
(2)
b
: to move with a continual change of place among the constituent particles
molasses flows slowly
water flowing over the dam
2
: rise
the tide ebbs and flows
3
: abound
a land flowing with natural resources
4
a
: to proceed smoothly and readily
conversation flowed easily
b
: to have a smooth continuity
the flowing lines of the car
5
: to hang loose and billowing
her gown flowed around her
6
: to derive from a source : come
the wealth that flows from trade
7
: to deform under stress without cracking or rupturing
used especially of minerals and rocks
8

transitive verb

1
: to cause to flow
flowing oil over the swamp to kill mosquito larvae
2
: to discharge in a flow
The new oil well flowed 100 barrels a day.

flow

2 of 2

noun

plural flows
1
: an act of flowing
2
b
: flood sense 2
the tide's ebb and flow
3
a
: a smooth uninterrupted movement or progress
a flow of information
b
: stream
also : a mass of material which has flowed when molten
an old lava flow
c
: the direction of movement or development
go with the flow
4
: the quantity that flows in a certain time
a gauge that measures fuel flow
5
6
a
: the motion characteristic of fluids
b
: a continuous transfer of energy
7
chiefly African American English : a rapper's lyrical delivery as characterized by cadence, speed, volume, rhyme, etc.
… [Cardi B's] flow is so relentless that for nearly three minutes she doesn't offer listeners a single moment to catch their breath.Lindsay Zoladz
Having a great flow is the skill that can elevate an average rapper to a highly talented one.Robby Seabrook III
Choose the Right Synonym for flow

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of flow in a Sentence

Verb rivers flowing into the sea She opened the faucet and the water began to flow freely. a device that measures the amount of electricity flowing through a circuit Traffic has been flowing smoothly from east to west. The grain flowed smoothly down the elevator chute. Requests have flowed into the office. Money has continued to flow in. Noun a sudden flow of tears a steady flow of traffic The doctor was trying to stop the flow of blood. We want to encourage the free flow of ideas. the westward flow of settlers We've been receiving a constant flow of phone calls. measuring blood flow to the brain
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
To this day, when there are heavy rains and too much water flows into the sewers, raw sewage flows into the canal. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024 To that end, hundreds of millions of dollars flow each year from the California Department of Developmental Services to the state’s 21 nonprofit regional centers. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024 Warm-voiced, flowing, bearded like a deity, the legendary record producer (nine Grammys) is about mindset. James Parker, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024 Since childhood, the word 'love' has flowed easily from the tongue of Iesha Morgan. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024 Thousands of young people flowed into the Mbour stadium to see him on Friday evening, the air filling with the honk of vuvuzelas. Mady Camara, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Along with the California state of emergency expansion, Newsom requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for several communities impacted by widespread flooding, mudslides and debris flows during the early February storms, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024 His body was found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, about eight miles from downtown, the Metro Nashville Police Department police posted on X. The river is a major waterway of the South which weaves through downtown Nashville and eventually flows back north into Kentucky. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Instead, organizers will turn the River Seine, which flows through the heart of Paris, into a theatrical stage, one on which a four-mile-long flotilla of nearly 100 boats will carry thousands of athletes from more than 200 countries past hundreds of thousands of spectators. Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
Assuming the river is running high and cold in the early season, rainbows are going to move to the banks to get out of the heaviest flows. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2024 Workers are expanding the stadium's northeast plaza near Elm Street and Freedom Way to improve crowd flow and accessibility during game days and other events, county spokesperson Amanda Carter said in an email. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2024 The kinesis of the river, a question of the color and the motion of the water flow, is always hypnotic. Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 The expansion was needed to alleviate crowding during prayers and also ensure smoother traffic flows. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 Humanitarian aid flow increases, still far short of need The first six days of March saw an increase in the number of humanitarian trucks entering Gaza, with an average of 155 trucks per day crossing, the UNRWA said. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 This set of socks is a best-seller at Amazon for a reason, as each pair is made from a thick and comfy nylon and spandex blend to promote blood flow and reduce fatigue to allow for an overall more comfortable flight. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 The United Nations Office for Migration plans to establish a monitoring post as of Friday to begin monitoring flows, a U.N. official told the Miami Herald. Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 But Sporting regained control of the match’s flow and appeared to do enough to ride out the win. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English flōwan; akin to Old High German flouwen to rinse, wash, Latin pluere to rain, Greek plein to sail, float

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near flow

Cite this Entry

“Flow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flow. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flow

1 of 2 verb
1
: to move in a stream
2
: rise entry 1 sense 5a
the tide ebbs and flows
3
: to glide or pass smoothly and readily
4
: to hang loose and waving
her gown flowed around her
5
: to come from as a source
money that flows from trade
flowingly adverb

flow

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of flowing
2
b
: the flowing in of the tide
the tide's ebb and flow
3
a
: a smooth even movement
b
: a mass of matter that has flowed when melted
a lava flow
4
: the quantity that flows in a certain time
the flow of water over a dam

Medical Definition

flow

1 of 2 intransitive verb
1
: to move with a continual change of place among the constituent particles
blood flows toward the heart in veins
2

flow

2 of 2 noun
1
: the quantity that flows in a certain time
2
3
: the motion characteristic of fluids

More from Merriam-Webster on flow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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