Meanings
flow1
plural flows
- countableuncountableMovement in people or things characterized with a continuous motion, involving either a non solid mass or a multitude.
- countableuncountableThe movement of a real or figurative fluid.
Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 48 - countableuncountableThe rising movement of the tide.
- countableuncountableThe amount of a fluid that moves or the rate of fluid movement.
Turn on the valve and make sure you have sufficient flow.
1 more example
Other devices measure water flow in streams fed by melted ice.
- countableuncountableA flow pipe, carrying liquid away from a boiler or other central plant (compare with return pipe which returns fluid to central plant).
- countableuncountablehuman sciencesA mental state characterized by concentration, focus, and enjoyment of a given task.
The point about flow is that it is enjoyable. As research has shown "the more often athletes experienced flow, the happier they were." But the second is that entering flow actually improves performance.
2014 January 14, Alex Lockwood, “How to achieve a state of flow when running”, in The Guardian - countableuncountableThe emission of blood during menstruation.
Tampons can be small or large, slender or thick. From “slender” to “super”, you can pick the size that matches your flow.
- countableuncountablerap music jargonThe ability to skillfully rap along to a beat.
The production on his new mixtape is mediocre but his flow is on point.
1 more example
Now shawty said she feelin' my style, she feelin' my flow […] / My flow, my show brought me the dough / That bought me all my fancy things
2003, “In da Club”, in Get Rich or Die Tryin', performed by 50 Cent - countableuncountablecomputingThe sequence of steps taken in a piece of software to perform some action.
login flow
2 more examples
search flow
I'm setting up event tracking for a pretty standard, multi-step signup flow, and I'm wondering [...]
2015, Dan, “Best practices for tracking progress through a sign up flow”, in snowplow-user mailing list
flow2
present singular third person flows · participle present flowing · participle past flowed · past flowed
- intransitiveTo move as a fluid from one position to another.
Tears flow from the eyes.
2 more examples
Rivers flow from springs and lakes.
Wrex: I need to get my blood flowing. Find me something to kill!
2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC - intransitiveTo proceed; to issue forth; to emanate.
Wealth flows from industry and economy.
1 more example
Thoſe thouſand decencies that daily flow ¶ From all her words and actions, mixt with Love
1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Ee, verso, lines 1238–1239 - intransitiveTo move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously.
The writing is grammatically correct, but it just doesn't flow.
1 more example
[…]Virgil,[…]is[…]ſweet and flowing in his Hexameters.
1697, Virgil, “Dedication”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page [183] - intransitiveTo have or be in abundance; to abound, so as to run or flow over.
the exhilaration of a night that needed not the influence of the flowing bowl
1844, John Wilson, Essay on the Genius, and Character of Burns2 more examples
[…]in that day, that[…]the hils ſhall flow with milke,[…]a fountaine ſhall come forth of the houſe of the Lord,[…]
New International Version translation: “In that day […] the hills will flow with milk; […] A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house […]
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joel 3:18–18, signature Ffff3, verso, columns 1–2When one of these new chains from Taiwan or China arrives, lines flow out the door.
2026 August 15, Irene Adeline Milanez, “We tasted boba from some of the Bay Area’s most popular chains. Here’s our No. 1”, in San Francisco Chronicle, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2026 - intransitiveTo hang loosely and wave.
flowing locks
2 more examples
a flowing mantle
[…]the imperial purple flowing in his train.
1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number LXVII. Concerning the Conſtitution of the Preſident: A groſs Attempt to miſrepreſent this Part of the Plan detected..”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC, page 222 - intransitiveTo rise, as the tide; opposed to ebb.
The tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.
1 more example
The Riuer hath thrice flow’d, no ebbe betweene:
The river hath thrice flow’d, no ebb between;
c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 93, column 2, line 125 - transitivecomputingTo arrange (text in a wordprocessor, etc.) so that it wraps neatly into a designated space; to reflow.
- transitiveTo allow (a liquid) to flow.
The action is usually progressive, and as a certain amount of oil is flowed from the tubing it lowers the pressure on the remaining oil and liberates more gas, thus causing additional oil to flow from the tubing.
1932, Carl Ernest Reistle, Paraffin and Congealing-Oil Problems, volumes 340-349, page 45 - transitiveTo cover with varnish.
flow3
plural flows
- ScotlandA bog or mire, especially a rough, waterlogged one.
Ye'll stick in some flow, Or, ye'll melt in a thow
1871, Alexander Boswell, Poetical Works, page 2134 more examples
[…] there are other extensive mosses in this district, commonly called flowes, which it is not probable ever will, or ever can be, converted into arable land. Some of these flowes are found to be 20, 25, or 30 feet deep, and are, besides, such a dead level, that the water has little or no descent; and even supposing they should be cast, or burnt to the bottom, standing pools of dirty water could only stand in their place.
1794, John Sinclair, The Statistical Account of Scotland, volume 10, page 328Had been roughly laid with bog-wood dug from the flowes,
1895, Crockett, Moss-Hags page xliiDandering o'er ferney knowes, [...] Springing o'er bogs an' flowes, [...]
1896, Proudlock, Borderland Muse, page 8If dey wirna a day apo' da flow dan he [it] wis nae man's bishaness.
1898 July 23, Shetland News, quoted in the EDD
Synonyms & antonyms
antonym(s) of “movement of the tide”
More synonyms by meaning
noundominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas
nounthe monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
flow · noun
- Proto-Indo-European*plew-
- Proto-Indo-European*plōw-der.?
- Proto-Indo-European*pleh₃(w)-der.?
- Proto-Germanic*flōaną
- Proto-West Germanic*flōan
- Old Englishflōwan
- Middle Englishflowen
- Middle Englishflowe
- Englishflow
From Middle English flowe, from the verb (see below). The psychology sense “state of focus” was coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1975.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →flow · verb
- Proto-Indo-European*plew-
- Proto-Indo-European*plōw-der.?
- Proto-Indo-European*pleh₃(w)-der.?
- Proto-Germanic*flōaną
- Proto-West Germanic*flōan
- Old Englishflōwan
- Middle Englishflowen
- Englishflow
From Middle English flowen, from Old English flōwan (“to flow”), from Proto-West Germanic *flōan, from Proto-Germanic *flōaną (“to flow”), from Proto-Indo-European *plōw-, lengthened o-grade form of *plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian flouje (“to flow”), West Frisian floeie (“to flow”), Dutch vloeien (“to flow”), Norwegian flo (“to flow”). Compare also English float. Not cognate with Latin fluō despite similarity.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →flow · noun
Uncertain. Perhaps from Old Norse flói (“a large bay, firth”), see floe. Compare Scots flow (“peat-bog, marsh”), Icelandic flói (“marshy ground”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans vloei, stroom
- vloeito move as a fluid
- stroomto move as a fluid
- loopto move as a fluid
- vloeito move smoothly
Ancient Greek ῥεῦμα, ῥοία
- ῥεῦμα (rheûma)the movement of a fluid
- ῥοία (rhoía)the movement of a fluid
- ῥέω (rhéō)to move as a fluid
Arabic تَدَفُّق, تَدَفَّقَ
- تَدَفُّق (tadaffuq)the movement of a fluid
- تَدَفَّقَ (tadaffaqa)to move as a fluid
- سَالَ (sāla)to move as a fluid
Basque etorri
- etorrithe movement of a fluid
Bengali প্রবাহিত হওয়া
- প্রবাহিত হওয়া (probahito hōẇa)to move as a fluid
Bulgarian прили́в, плавност
- прили́в (prilív)the rising movement of the tide
- плавност (plavnost)smoothness or continuity
- дебит (debit)rate of fluid movement
- тече́ние (tečénie)the movement of a fluid
- пото́к (potók)the movement of a fluid
- тека (teka)to move as a fluid
- лея се (leja se)to move as a fluid
- тека (teka)to move smoothly
- приливам (prilivam)to come in as the tide
- прилея (prileja)to come in as the tide
Catalan flux, flux
- fluxthe rising movement of the tide
- fluxsmoothness or continuity
- cabalrate of fluid movement
- fluxthe movement of a fluid
- fluirto move as a fluid
Chinese Cantonese 流
- 流 (lau⁴)to move as a fluid
Chinese Mandarin 流, 流
- 流 (liú)the movement of a fluid
- 流 (liú)to move as a fluid
Czech příliv, tok
- přílivthe rising movement of the tide
- tokthe movement of a fluid
- prouděníthe movement of a fluid
- téctto move as a fluid
- prouditto move as a fluid
Danish flod, strøm
- flodthe rising movement of the tide
- strømthe movement of a fluid
- strømmeto move as a fluid
Dutch vloed, afronding
- vloedthe rising movement of the tide
- afrondingsmoothness or continuity
- rondingsmoothness or continuity
- debietrate of fluid movement
- stroomthe movement of a fluid
- een zijn metbeing at one with
- vloeiento move as a fluid
- stromento move as a fluid
Esperanto alfluo, fluo
- alfluothe rising movement of the tide
- fluothe movement of a fluid
- alfluothe movement of a fluid
- fluito move as a fluid
Estonian tõus, sujuvus
- tõusthe rising movement of the tide
- sujuvussmoothness or continuity
- ladusussmoothness or continuity
- voolrate of fluid movement
- voolthe movement of a fluid
- voolamato move as a fluid
Finnish vuoksi, nousuvesi
- vuoksithe rising movement of the tide
- nousuvesithe rising movement of the tide
- virtaamarate of fluid movement
- virtausrate of fluid movement
- virtausthe movement of a fluid
- ykseysbeing at one with
- virratato move as a fluid
- sujuato move smoothly
- soljuato move smoothly
- lipuato move smoothly
French flux, écoulement
- fluxthe rising movement of the tide
- écoulementthe movement of a fluid
- fluxthe movement of a fluid
- coulerto move as a fluid
German Flut, Fluss
- Flutthe rising movement of the tide
- Flussthe movement of a fluid
- Tätigkeitsrauschbeing at one with
- fließento move as a fluid
- rinnento move as a fluid
Greek πλημμυρίδα, παροχή
- πλημμυρίδα (plimmyrída)the rising movement of the tide
- παροχή (parochí)rate of fluid movement
- ροή (roḯ)the movement of a fluid
- είμαι ένα με (eímai éna me)being at one with
- ρέω (réo)to move as a fluid
- κυλώ (kyló)to move as a fluid
- ρέω (réo)to move smoothly
- κυλώ (kyló)to move smoothly
Hawaiian kahe
- kaheto move as a fluid
Hebrew זרם
- זרם (zarám)to move as a fluid
Hindi प्रवाह, बहाव
- प्रवाह (pravāh)the movement of a fluid
- बहाव (bahāv)the movement of a fluid
- बहना (bahnā)to move as a fluid
Hungarian ár, áradás
- árthe rising movement of the tide
- áradásthe rising movement of the tide
- dagálythe rising movement of the tide
- áramlásthe movement of a fluid
- folyikto move as a fluid
Icelandic renna, streyma
- rennato move as a fluid
- streymato move as a fluid
- flæðato move as a fluid
Indonesian aliran, debit
- aliranrate of fluid movement
- debitrate of fluid movement
- alirthe movement of a fluid
- alurto move as a fluid
- alirto move as a fluid
- salurto move as a fluid
- salirto move as a fluid
Irish sreabh, sileadh
- sreabhthe movement of a fluid
- sileadhthe movement of a fluid
- sreabhto move as a fluid
- snighto move as a fluid
Italian riflusso, flusso
- riflussothe rising movement of the tide
- flussothe rising movement of the tide
- fluiditàsmoothness or continuity
- flussorate of fluid movement
- flussothe movement of a fluid
- colatathe movement of a fluid
- scorrimentothe movement of a fluid
- fluireto move as a fluid
- scorrereto move as a fluid
- scorrereto move smoothly
- rifluireto come in as the tide
Japanese 流れ, 流れる
- 流れ (nagare)the movement of a fluid
- 流れる (nagareru)to move as a fluid
Korean 흐름, 흐르다
- 흐름 (heureum)the movement of a fluid
- 흐르다 (heureuda)to move as a fluid
Latin fluxus, fluō
- fluxusthe movement of a fluid
- fluōto move as a fluid
Latvian plūsma
- plūsmathe movement of a fluid
Lithuanian bė́gti, tekė́ti
- bė́gtito move as a fluid
- tekė́tito move as a fluid
Malay الور, الير
- الورto move as a fluid
- اليرto move as a fluid
- سالورto move as a fluid
- ساليرto move as a fluid
- alurto move as a fluid
- alirto move as a fluid
- salurto move as a fluid
- salirto move as a fluid
Māori tahe, pūheke
- taheto move as a fluid
- pūheketo move as a fluid
- tuanakito move smoothly
- kaunukuto move smoothly
- pākatoto come in as the tide
- parito come in as the tide
- heruto come in as the tide
- katoto come in as the tide
Norwegian flo, flomme
- flothe rising movement of the tide
- flommeto move as a fluid
- strømmeto move as a fluid
- flødato move as a fluid
- fløymato move as a fluid
Norwegian Bokmål flom, strøm
- flomthe movement of a fluid
- strømthe movement of a fluid
Polish przypływ, przepływ
- przypływthe rising movement of the tide
- przepływrate of fluid movement
- przepływthe movement of a fluid
- płynąćto move as a fluid
- przepływaćto move as a fluid
- ciecto move as a fluid
Portuguese fluxo da maré, fluidez
- fluxo da maréthe rising movement of the tide
- fluidezsmoothness or continuity
- fluxorate of fluid movement
- caudalrate of fluid movement
- fluxothe movement of a fluid
- escoamentothe movement of a fluid
- caudalthe movement of a fluid
- fluirto move as a fluid
Romanian flux, curgere
- fluxthe rising movement of the tide
- curgerethe movement of a fluid
- curgeto move as a fluid
Russian прили́в, пла́вность
- прили́в (prilív)the rising movement of the tide
- пла́вность (plávnostʹ)smoothness or continuity
- тече́ние (tečénije)the movement of a fluid
- пото́к (potók)the movement of a fluid
- вовлечённость (vovlečónnostʹ)being at one with
- течь (tečʹ)to move as a fluid
- струи́ться (struítʹsja)to move as a fluid
Scottish Gaelic lìonadh, sruth
- lìonadhthe rising movement of the tide
- sruthto move as a fluid
- silto move as a fluid
- ruithto move as a fluid
Slovak príliv, prúd
- prílivthe rising movement of the tide
- prúdthe movement of a fluid
- tokthe movement of a fluid
- tiecťto move as a fluid
Spanish flujo, flujo
- flujothe rising movement of the tide
- flujosmoothness or continuity
- caudalrate of fluid movement
- flujothe movement of a fluid
- fluirto move as a fluid
Swahili mkondo, mkondo
- mkondothe rising movement of the tide
- mkondosmoothness or continuity
- mkondothe movement of a fluid
Swedish ström, flöde
- strömthe movement of a fluid
- flödethe movement of a fluid
- strömmato move as a fluid
- flytato move as a fluid
Tamil ஓதம், தொடர்
- ஓதம் (ōtam)the rising movement of the tide
- தொடர் (toṭar)smoothness or continuity
- ஓட்டம் (ōṭṭam)rate of fluid movement
- ஓட்டம் (ōṭṭam)the movement of a fluid
- -ஓடு (-ōṭu)being at one with
- ஒன்றாக (oṉṟāka)being at one with
- ஓடு (ōṭu)to move as a fluid
Thai ไหล
- ไหล (lǎi)to move as a fluid
Turkish met, akış
- metthe rising movement of the tide
- akışthe movement of a fluid
- seyelanthe movement of a fluid
- akmakto move as a fluid
Ukrainian течі́я, те́ча
- течі́я (tečíja)the movement of a fluid
- те́ча (téča)the movement of a fluid
- плин (plyn)the movement of a fluid
- плив (plyv)the movement of a fluid
- поті́к (potík)the movement of a fluid
- струм (strum)the movement of a fluid
- текти́ (tektý)to move as a fluid
Urdu بہنا
- بہنا (bahnā)to move as a fluid
Vietnamese dòng chảy, chảy
- dòng chảythe movement of a fluid
- chảyto move as a fluid
Welsh llifo
- llifoto move as a fluid
Yiddish פֿליסן
- פֿליסן (flisn)to move as a fluid
Zulu goboza
- gobozato move as a fluid
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with flow
All rhymes →Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
flow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flow
“flow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flow. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “flow,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flow.
Source: flow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.