Flow
/floʊ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo move along smoothly and continuously, like a liquid or gas.
/floʊ/
To move continuously in a stream.
The river flows gently through the valley.
💡 Simply: Think of water coming out of the faucet – that's a flow! It’s something moving smoothly, like how a river goes to the sea. You can also imagine information flowing through your computer to someone else.
👶 For kids: To move like water or air. Like when you pour juice, it flows!
More Examples
Information flows freely between team members.
The traffic is flowing smoothly this morning.
How It's Used
"The river flows into the ocean."
"Data flows through the network."
The continuous movement of a substance or things.
/floʊ/
The act of moving in a stream.
The flow of information was disrupted.
💡 Simply: The flow is the movement! Like the flow of people into a stadium, or the flow of ideas during a brainstorming session. It’s how things are moving or working.
👶 For kids: When something moves a lot, like water moving in a stream. That's the flow!
More Examples
We need to improve the flow of work in the office.
The river's flow was reduced due to the drought.
How It's Used
"The flow of traffic was heavy."
"Blood flow is essential for health."
To circulate freely; to be available in abundance; to come or go freely.
/floʊ/
To circulate or be in a state of abundance.
Ideas flowed freely during the brainstorming session.
💡 Simply: This is like having a lot of something available. Like when money flows into your bank account or when ideas flow freely. It's about having a lot of something coming or going.
👶 For kids: When there's lots of something, like lots of money coming in, or when a story just keeps going! That's flowing!
More Examples
Support is flowing into the organization to help the victims.
Cash flow is vital for a healthy business.
How It's Used
"Money is flowing into the company."
"Creativity flowed through her during the performance."
Idioms & expressions
go with the flow
To adapt to a situation or accept what happens.
"Rather than resisting the changes, I decided to go with the flow."
in full flow
Happening or being done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
"The party was in full flow by midnight."
cash flow
The movement of money into and out of a business.
"Positive cash flow is essential for the business to survive."
From Old English *flōwan* (verb), related to Old Norse *flóa*, and Proto-Germanic *flōaną*. The noun emerged later.
The verb 'flow' appears in Old English with the meaning of 'to run like a stream'. The noun developed later, taking on the meaning of the act or process of flowing.