verb

blow

bloh

verb

To produce a current of air, especially by expelling breath through the mouth.

"She blew gently on the hot soup."

"A cold wind was blowing across the fields."

To explode or shatter suddenly, or to cause something to do so.

"The old boiler finally blew after years of neglect."

(informal) To waste or squander, especially money or an opportunity.

"He blew his entire paycheck on a new phone."

"She blew her chance to make a good first impression."

noun

A hard hit or strike.

"He took a heavy blow to the jaw."

A sudden shock or setback.

"Losing the contract was a huge blow to the company."

How to Use Blow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo move air with force, to explode, to waste something, or (as a noun) a hit or a setback.

Common mistake

As slang, "blow" can also mean cocaine or refer to oral sex — context makes clear which sense is meant, but be cautious with the word in formal writing.

Common pairings

blow up a heavy blow blow money

Word Forms

blower comparative, more blow comparative, blew past tense, blown past tense, blew past tense, blown past tense, blows plural, blows plural, blows plural, Blows plural, blows singular, blows singular, blowest superlative, most blow superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “blow” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A cold wind was _____ across the fields.

Etymology

From Old English blawan ("to blow, breathe, sound"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to swell or blow up — related to Latin flo, "to blow."

Rhymes for blow

low slow flow glow allow below aglow yellow follow hollow fellow mellow

See all rhymes for blow →