flow
verb/fləʊ/
/fləʊ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they flow | /fləʊ/ /fləʊ/ |
| he / she / it flows | /fləʊz/ /fləʊz/ |
| past simple flowed | /fləʊd/ /fləʊd/ |
| past participle flowed | /fləʊd/ /fləʊd/ |
| -ing form flowing | /ˈfləʊɪŋ/ /ˈfləʊɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] (of liquid, gas or electricity) to move steadily and continuously in one direction
- He lost control and the tears began to flow.
- + adv./prep. It's here that the river flows down into the ocean.
- Blood flowed from a cut on her head.
- This can prevent air from flowing freely to the lungs.
- the electric currents flowing through the cables
- a fast-flowing stream
- The Wei River flows east.
Extra Examples- Blood was still flowing from the wound.
- The river flows quite fast here.
- a small stream that flowed down the hillside
- to get blood flowing to the brain
- It's here that the river flows down into the ocean.
- The current flowing in a circuit is measured by connecting an ammeter.
- (figurative) One day seemed to flow into the next.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
- [intransitive] (of people or things) to move or pass continuously from one place or person to another, especially in large numbers or amounts
- New orders are finally starting to flow.
- + adv./prep. Constant streams of traffic flowed past.
- Election results flowed in throughout the night.
- They examined the way in which information flowed between the firm’s 300 employees.
Extra Examples- Imported food aid continued to flow in.
- Information flows continuously through the network.
- The best thing is when ideas flow in both directions.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
- [intransitive] to develop or be produced in an easy and natural way
- Conversation flowed freely throughout the meal.
- We hope that the debate on this issue will continue to flow.
Extra Examples- In a good production of the play, the action and the words flow naturally.
- The songs flow seamlessly into one another.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
- [intransitive] to be available easily and in large amounts
- It was obvious that money flowed freely in their family.
- The party got livelier as the drink began to flow.
- Wine and beer flowed freely.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to be felt strongly by somebody
- Fear and excitement suddenly flowed over me.
- He envied the affection that flowed between the boy and the old man.
- [intransitive] flow (down/over something) to hang loosely and freely
- Her hair flowed down over her shoulders.
- long flowing skirts
- Her long hair flowed in the wind as she ran.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
- [intransitive] (of the tide in the sea/ocean) to come in towards the land
- The sea ebbed and flowed.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- effortlessly
- freely
- …
- seem to
- begin to
- start to
- …
- across
- along
- between
- …
- ebb and flow
- flow in a… direction
- flow in the breeze
- …
move continuously
of ideas/conversation
be available easily
of feeling
of clothes/hair
of the sea
Word OriginOld English flōwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloeien, also to flood.
Idioms
See flow in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee flow in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
flow