airflow

noun

air·​flow ˈer-ˌflō How to pronounce airflow (audio)
: a flow of air
especially : the motion of air (as around parts of an airplane in flight) relative to the surface of a body immersed in it

Examples of airflow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Earwax buildup, fluid behind the eardrum or middle ear issues may physically obstruct sound and airflow. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 Maintaining proper airflow by pruning can be as easy as snapping off a low branch or snipping a growing tip here and there. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025 Summer pruning helps remove lanky growth and improve airflow to discourage disease and pests. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025 At the center sits the 72-foot-tall installation of 1,632 curved glass panels, which facilitate energy-saving airflow while bathing the terminal in natural light. Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for airflow

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airflow was in 1878

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Cite this Entry

“Airflow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airflow. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

airflow

noun
air·​flow -ˌflō How to pronounce airflow (audio)
: a flow of air
especially : the motion of air (as around parts of an airplane in flight) compared to the surface of a body surrounded by the air

More from Merriam-Webster on airflow

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