blow
bloh
Blow (verb) means to produce a current of air, especially by expelling breath through the mouth. Example: “She blew gently on the hot soup.”
verb
1
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."
"Children love to blow bubbles in the garden on sunny afternoons."
2
To explode or shatter suddenly, or to cause something to do so.
"If you overfill the balloon, it will blow with a loud bang."
"The old boiler finally blew after years of neglect."
"A tyre can blow if you drive over a sharp stone."
3
(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."
"Don't blow your savings on something you will use only once."
noun
1
A hard hit or strike.
"He took a heavy blow to the jaw."
"A sudden blow from the falling branch knocked his hat off."
"The boxer staggered back after a blow to the body."
2
A sudden shock or setback.
"Losing the contract was a huge blow to the company."
"It was a real blow when the school trip was cancelled."
"The news of the closure came as a blow to the village."
How to use blow
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- blows
- Third person singular
- blows
- Past tense
- blew, blown
- Comparative
- blower, more blow
- Superlative
- blowest, most blow
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for blow
See all rhymes for blow →Frequently asked questions
What does “blow” mean?
The word “blow” means to produce a current of air, especially by expelling breath through the mouth. In plain terms, to move air with force, to explode, to waste something, or (as a noun) a hit or a setback.
How do you pronounce “blow”?
“Blow” is pronounced bloh (/bloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “blow” in a sentence?
Here is “blow” used in a sentence: “A cold wind was blowing across the fields.”
What part of speech is “blow”?
Depending on how it is used, “blow” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “blow” come from?
The word “blow” comes from Latin. 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.".
Is “blow” a common word?
“Blow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “blow” have?
“Blow” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to produce a current of air, especially by expelling breath through the mouth.
What is the past tense of blow?
Blow is an irregular verb. Its simple past tense is 'blew,' as in 'the wind blew all night,' while the past participle is 'blown,' as in 'the roof had blown off.' Because these forms do not follow the regular '-ed' pattern, they are among the most commonly looked-up English verb forms.
What are the different meanings of blow?
Beyond producing a current of air, 'blow' carries many senses. It can mean to move air forcefully (the wind blows), to shape by air (blow glass), to sound an instrument (blow a whistle), to waste money, or to ruin an opportunity. As a noun it also means a hard hit or a sudden setback.
Does 'blow' always involve the mouth?
No. While blowing often means expelling breath, as when you blow out candles, the word also describes any strong movement of air. The wind blows, a fan blows cool air, and a storm can blow a door open. In each case something produces or is moved by a current of air.
What is an example of blow in a sentence?
You might say, 'She leaned over the cake to blow out the candles,' or 'Blow on your soup to cool it down.' Both show the core meaning of pushing air from the mouth. Weather uses it too: 'A cold wind began to blow across the open field,' describing moving air rather than breath.
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