flow
FLOH
Flow (noun) means the continuous, smooth movement of a liquid, gas, or stream of things. Example: “The dam controls the flow of water into the valley.”
noun
1
The continuous, smooth movement of a liquid, gas, or stream of things.
"The dam controls the flow of water into the valley."
"Traffic flow eased once rush hour ended."
"A steady flow of customers came through the shop all morning."
2
A state of complete focus and absorption in an activity, often called "being in the zone."
"While painting, she often loses herself in a state of flow."
"Musicians often describe hours of practice slipping by when they reach flow."
"Interruptions kill my flow, so I switch off my phone while writing."
verb
1
To move steadily and continuously, like a liquid.
"The river flows south toward the coast."
"Ideas flowed easily once she got past the first paragraph."
"Warm water flowed from the tap after a few seconds."
How to use flow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA smooth, continuous movement — of water, traffic, conversation, or even someone's mental focus.
Common pairings
flow of information
cash flow
go with the flow
in a state of flow
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Word forms
- Plural
- flows
- Third person singular
- flows
- Past tense
- flowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dam controls the _____ of water into the valley.
Etymology
From Old English flowan ("to flow"). The psychological sense of total, effortless focus was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for flow
See all rhymes for flow →Frequently asked questions
What does “flow” mean?
The word “flow” means the continuous, smooth movement of a liquid, gas, or stream of things. In plain terms, a smooth, continuous movement — of water, traffic, conversation, or even someone's mental focus.
How do you pronounce “flow”?
“Flow” is pronounced FLOH (/ˈfloʊ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “flow” in a sentence?
Here is “flow” used in a sentence: “The dam controls the flow of water into the valley.”
What is another word for “flow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “flow” include course, flit, flux, fountain, fly and glide.
What is the opposite of “flow”?
The opposite of “flow” — its antonyms — are ebb, halt and stutter.
What part of speech is “flow”?
Depending on how it is used, “flow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “flow” come from?
The word “flow” dates back to around 1975 and comes from Old English. From Old English flowan ("to flow"). The psychological sense of total, effortless focus was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975.
Is “flow” a common word?
“Flow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between flow and current?
Flow is the general, continuous movement of a fluid or stream of things — the water flowing in a river. A current is a specific body of that fluid moving in a particular direction, like an ocean current or an electric current. Flow describes the movement itself; a current is the moving stream.
What is an example of flow?
Flow appears wherever something moves steadily and continuously. Water running through a pipe, air moving through a vent, blood circulating through veins, traffic streaming down a motorway, and even the flow of electricity or data all qualify. The common thread is smooth, ongoing movement rather than isolated, start-stop motion.
What affects the rate of flow?
A fluid's flow rate depends mainly on pressure, the width of the channel, and the fluid's thickness, or viscosity. Higher pressure and wider pipes speed flow, while thick, sticky fluids and narrow passages slow it. Obstructions and friction along the walls also reduce how fast a liquid or gas can move.
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