blow

UK: /ˈbləʊ/ US: /bloʊ/ ,(blō)

Inflections of 'blow' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

blows

v 3rd person singular

blowing

v pres p

blew

v past

blown

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

blow¹ /bloʊ/   n. [countable]

1. a sudden, hard stroke with a hand, fist, or weapon:
   a quick blow to the back of the neck.
2. a sudden shock or terrible event:
   Her being fired was a terrible blow.
3. a sudden attack or drastic action:
   The army struck a blow to the south.

Idioms

4. Idioms at one blow, with a single act:
   became wealthy and famous at one blow. Also, at a blow.
5. Idioms come to blows, to begin to fight, esp. physically:
   came to blows at the meeting.
6. Idioms strike a blow for, [~ + object] to further or advance the cause of:
   to strike a blow for civil rights.

blow² /bloʊ/   v., blew/blu/  blown, blow•ing, n. 
v. 

1. (of the wind or air)
   • [no object] to be in motion:
     The wind blew all night.
   • [~ + object] to move something along with a current of air:
     The wind blew dust in my eyes.
   • to (cause to) fall or collapse by a current of air: [~ + down/over + object]
     A windstorm blew down the tent.
     [~ + object + down/over]
     A windstorm blew the tent over.
2. to move along, carried by or as if by the wind:
   [no object] The dust blew into my eyes.
3. to shape (glass, smoke, etc.) with a current of air:
   [~ + object] blew a smoke ring.
4. to produce or give off a current of air, as with the mouth or a bellows: [no object]
   blew into the microphone.
   [~]  + [object]
   He blew smoke into my eyes.
5. Music and Dance (of a horn, etc.) to (cause to) give out sound: [no object]
   As the trumpets were blowing the queen approached.
   [~ + object]
   drivers blowing their horns.
6. to (cause to) make a blowing sound: [no object]
   The sirens blew at noon.
   [~ + object]
   The town blows its whistle at noon.
7. Electricity
   • (of a fuse, etc.) to (cause to) stop functioning, as by bursting or melting [no object; (~ + out)]
     The fuse blew. The tire blew (out).
   • [~ (+ out) + object]
     The surge of electricity blew the fuse. That nail blew (out) the tire.
8. Slang Terms to leave (from)* depart (from): [no object]
   Here come the cops! Let's blow!
   [~ + object]
   Let's blow this town!
9. to (cause to) explode: [~ + object]
   A mine blew the ship to bits.
   [no object]
   When that bomb blows, it'll take everyone with it!
10. Informal Terms
    • [~ + object] to waste (money);
      squander: I blew $100 on dinner.
11. Informal Terms [~ + object]
    • to mishandle, ruin, or bungle:
      It was your last chance and you blew it!; blew his lines in the play.
    • to waste or lose: The team blew a large lead in the third quarter.
12. Slang Terms blow away,
    • to kill, esp. by gunfire: [~ + object + away]
      blew the bad guys away.
      [~ + away + object]
      blew away all the bad guys.
    • to defeat decisively;
      trounce: [~ + away + object]
      The Chargers blew away the Jets by a score of 60 to 0.
      [~ + object + away]
      The Chargers blew the Jets away.
    • [~ + object + away] to overwhelm with emotion, etc.:
      I was blown away when they told me he was killed.
13. blow out,
    • to (cause to) go out;
      (cause to) become extinguished: [~ + out + object]
      She blew out all the candles.
      [~ + object + out]
      She blew them out.
      [no object]
      The fire finally blew out.
    • [~ + oneself/itself + out] to (cause to) lose force;
      to cease: The storm has blown itself out.
14. blow over, [no object]
    • to pass away;
      subside: The storm blew over in minutes.
    • to be forgotten: The scandal will blow over eventually.
15. blow up,
    • to (cause to) explode: [no object]
      The bridge blew up in a roar of flames and light.
      [~ + up + object]
      The bombs blew up the embassy.
      [~ + object + up]
      They blew the depot up.
    • [~]  + [object]  + [up] to exaggerate;
      enlarge:
      You're blowing this whole thing up out of proportion.
    • Informal Terms [no object] to lose one's temper:
      blew up at her secretary but apologized after lunch.
    • to fill with air or gas;
      inflate: [~ + up + object]
      to blow up a balloon.
      [~ + object + up]
      to blow it up.

n. [countable]

16. a blast of air or wind.

Idioms

17. Idioms blow off steam, to release tension, as by activity, etc.:
    blowing off steam before the big match tomorrow.
18. Idioms, Slang Terms blow one's cool, to lose one's composure;
    to become nervous, etc.:
    When it's your turn to speak, don't blow your cool.
19. Idioms blow one's mind, to overwhelm (someone), as with excitement, pleasure, or dismay:
    The thought of becoming a multimillionaire blows my mind.
20. Idioms blow one's stack or top, to become very angry:
    When she came home late her father blew his stack.
21. Idioms blow the lid off, [~ + object] to expose (scandal or illegal actions) to public view:
    This story will blow the lid off the conspiracy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

blow¹  (blō), n. 

1. a sudden, hard stroke with a hand, fist, or weapon:
   a blow to the head.
2. a sudden shock, calamity, reversal, etc.:
   His wife's death was a terrible blow to him.
3. a sudden attack or drastic action:
   The invaders struck a blow to the south.
4. Idioms at one blow, with a single act:
   He became wealthy and famous at one blow.
   Also, at a blow. 
5. Idioms come to blows, to begin to fight, esp. to engage in physical combat:
   They came to blows over the referee's ruling.
6. Idioms strike a blow, to hit.
7. Idioms strike a blow for, to further or advance the cause of:
   to strike a blow for civil rights.
8. Idioms without striking a blow, without a battle or contest:
   The military coup was accomplished without striking a blow.

• 1425–75; late Middle English blaw, northern form representing later blowe; akin to Old High German bliuwan, Gothic bliggwan to beat

Synonyms

• 1. buffet, thump, thwack, rap, slap, cuff, box, beat, knock.
• 1, 2. Blow, stroke, hit, slap refer to a sudden or forceful impact, but differ in their literal and figurative uses.
  Blow emphasizes the violence of the impact and, figuratively, adverse fortune:
  a blow from a hammer; a blow to one's hopes.
  Stroke emphasizes movement as well as impact; it indicates precision or, figuratively, either good fortune or sudden or unexpected pain or misfortune:
  the stroke of a piston; a stroke of luck, of lightning; a paralytic stroke.
  Hit, in its current uses, emphasizes the successful result of a literal or figurative blow, impact, or impression, for example in baseball, social life, the theater:
  a two-base hit; to make a hit with someone; a smash hit.
  Slap, a blow with the open hand or with something flat, emphasizes the instrument with which the blow is delivered and, often, the resulting sound; figuratively, it connotes an unfriendly or sarcastic statement, action, or attitude:
  Her coldness was like a slap in the face; the slap of a beaver's tail on the water.

blow²  (blō), v., blew, blown, blow•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. (of the wind or air) to be in motion.
2. to move along, carried by or as by the wind:
   Dust seemed to blow through every crack in the house.
3. to produce or emit a current of air, as with the mouth or a bellows:
   Blow on your hands to warm them.
4. Music and Dance (of a horn, trumpet, etc.) to give out sound.
5. to make a blowing sound;
   whistle:
   The siren blew just as we rounded the corner.
6. (of horses) to breathe hard or quickly;
   pant.
7. Informal Terms to boast;
   brag:
   He kept blowing about his medals.
8. [Zool.] (of a whale) to spout.
9. Electricity (of a fuse, light bulb, vacuum tube, tire, etc.) to burst, melt, stop functioning, or be destroyed by exploding, overloading, etc. (often fol. by out):
   A fuse blew just as we sat down to dinner. The rear tire blew out.
10. to burst from internal pressure:
    Poorly sealed cans will often blow.
11. Slang Terms to leave;
    depart.

v.t. 

12. to drive by means of a current of air:
    A sudden breeze blew the smoke into the house.
13. to spread or make widely known:
    Growing panic blew the rumor about.
14. to drive a current of air upon.
15. to clear or empty by forcing air through:
    Try blowing your nose.
16. to shape (glass, smoke, etc.) with a current of air:
    to blow smoke rings.
17. to cause to sound, as by a current of air:
    Blow your horn at the next crossing.
18. Music and Dance [Jazz.] to play (a musical instrument of any kind).
19. to cause to explode (often fol. by up, to bits, etc.):
    A mine blew the ship to bits.
20. to burst, melt, burn out, or destroy by exploding, overloading, etc. (often fol. by out):
    to blow a tire; blow a fuse.
21. to destroy;
    demolish (usually fol. by down, over, etc.):
    The windstorm blew down his house.
22. Informal Terms
    • to spend money on.
    • to squander;
      spend quickly:
      He blew a fortune on racing cars.
    • to waste;
      lose:
      The team blew the lead by making a bad play.
23. Informal Terms to mishandle, ruin, botch;
    make a mess of;
    bungle:
    With one stupid mistake he blew the whole project. It was your last chance and you blew it!
24. Slang Terms to damn:
    Blow the cost!
25. to put (a horse) out of breath by fatigue.
26. Slang Terms to depart from:
    to blow town.
27. Slang Terms (vulgar). to perform fellatio on.
28. [Slang.] to smoke (marijuana or other drugs).
29. Slang Terms blow away:
    • to kill, esp. by gunfire:
      The gang threatened to blow away anyone who talked to the police.
    • to defeat decisively;
      trounce:
      She blew her opponent away in three straight sets.
    • to overwhelm with emotion, astonishment, etc.:
      Good poetry just blows me away.
30. Metallurgy blow down, to suspend working of (a blast furnace) by smelting the existing charge with a diminishing blast.
31. Idioms blow hot and cold, to favor something at first and reject it later on;
    waver;
    vacillate:
    His enthusiasm for the job blows hot and cold.
32. Slang Terms blow in:
    • [Slang.] to arrive at a place, esp. unexpectedly:
      My uncle just blew in from Sacramento.
    • Metallurgy to begin operations in (a blast furnace).
33. Idioms blow off:
    • to allow steam to be released.
    • [Informal.] to reduce or release tension, as by loud talking.
34. Slang Terms blow one's cool, to lose one's composure;
    become angry, frantic, or flustered.
35. Idioms blow one's cover. See cover (def. 53).
36. blow one's lines, [Theat.] to forget or make an error in a speaking part or stage directions.
37. Idioms blow one's mind. See mind (def. 20).
38. Idioms blow one's stack. See stack (def. 17).
39. Idioms blow one's top. See top ¹ (def. 21).
40. blow out:
    • to become extinguished:
      The candles blew out at once.
    • to lose force or cease:
      The storm has blown itself out.
    • (of an oil or gas well) to lose oil or gas uncontrollably.
    • Metallurgy to blow down and clean (a blast furnace) in order to shut down.
41. blow over:
    • to pass away;
      subside:
      The storm blew over in five minutes.
    • to be forgotten:
      The scandal will eventually blow over.
42. blow up:
    • to come into being:
      A storm suddenly blew up.
    • to explode:
      The ship blew up.
    • to cause to explode:
      to blow up a bridge.
    • to exaggerate;
      enlarge:
      He blew up his own role in his account of the project.
    • Informal Terms to lose one's temper:
      When he heard she had quit school, he blew up.
    • to fill with air;
      inflate:
      to blow up a tire.
    • [Photog.] to make an enlarged reproduction of.
    • [Math.] (of a function) to become infinite.

n. 

43. a blast of air or wind:
    to clean machinery with a blow.
44. Informal Terms a violent windstorm, gale, hurricane, or the like:
    one of the worst blows we ever had around here.
45. an act of producing a blast of air, as in playing a wind instrument:
    a few discordant blows by the bugler.
46. [Metall.]
    • a blast of air forced through a converter, as in the production of steel or copper.
    • the stage of the production process during which this blast is used.
47. Civil Engineering boil¹ (def. 15).
48. Slang Terms cocaine.

• bef. 1000; Middle English blowen (verb, verbal), Old English blāwan; cognate with Latin flāre to blow

blow³  (blō), n., v., blew, blown, blow•ing. 
n. 

1. Botany a yield or display of blossoms:
   the lilac's lavender blows.
2. a display of anything bright or brilliant:
   a rich, full blow of color.
3. state of blossoming;
   a flowering:
   a border of tulips in full blow.

v.i., v.t. 

4. [Archaic.] to blossom or cause to blossom.

• bef. 1000; Middle English blowen (verb, verbal), Old English blōwan; akin to German blühen to bloom, Latin flōs flower

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

blow / bləʊ/ verb (blows, blowing, blew, blown)

1. (of a current of air, the wind, etc) to be or cause to be in motion
2. (intransitive) to move or be carried by or as if by wind or air
3. to expel (air, cigarette smoke, etc) through the mouth or nose
4. to force or cause (air, dust, etc) to move (into, in, over, etc) by using an instrument or by expelling breath
5. (intransitive) to breathe hard; pant
6. (sometimes followed by up) to inflate with air or the breath
7. (intransitive) (of wind, a storm, etc) to make a roaring or whistling sound
8. to cause (a whistle, siren, etc) to sound by forcing air into it, as a signal, or (of a whistle, etc) to sound thus
9. (transitive) to force air from the lungs through (the nose) to clear out mucus or obstructing matter
10. often followed by up, down, in, etc: to explode, break, or disintegrate completely
11. to burn out (a fuse, valve, etc) because of excessive current or (of a fuse, valve, etc) to burn out
12. (transitive) to wind (a horse) by making it run excessively
13. to cause (a wind instrument) to sound by forcing one's breath into the mouthpiece, or (of such an instrument) to sound in this way
14. (intransitive) (of flies) to lay eggs (in)
15. to shape (glass, ornaments, etc) by forcing air or gas through the material when molten
16. (transitive) to spend (money) freely
17. (transitive) to use (an opportunity) ineffectively
18. to go suddenly away (from)
19. (transitive) to expose or betray (a person or thing meant to be kept secret)
20. (blowed)
    another word for damn
21. another word for huff4
22. blow hot and cold ⇒ to vacillate
23. blow one's top, blow one's stack, blow one's lid ⇒ to lose one's temper

noun

1. the act or an instance of blowing
2. the sound produced by blowing
3. a blast of air or wind
4. 
   a slang name for cannabis2
5. 
   a slang name for cocaine

Etymology: Old English blāwan, related to Old Norse blǣr gust of wind, Old High German blāen, Latin flāre

blow / bləʊ/ noun

1. a powerful or heavy stroke with the fist, a weapon, etc
2. at one blow, at a blow ⇒ by or with only one action; all at one time
3. a sudden setback; unfortunate event
4. come to blows ⇒ to fight
5. to result in a fight
6. an attacking action: a blow for freedom
7. a stroke of the shears in sheep-shearing

Etymology: 15th Century: probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German bliuwan to beat

blow / bləʊ/ verb (blows, blowing, blew, blown)

1. (intransitive) (of a plant or flower) to blossom or open out

noun

1. a mass of blossoms
2. the state or period of blossoming (esp in the phrase in full blow)

Etymology: Old English blōwan; related to Old Frisian blōia to bloom, Old High German bluoen, Latin flōs flower; see bloom¹