1
a
of air
(1)
: to be in motion
A breeze blew gently.
(2)
: to move with speed or force
The wind was blowing.
b
: to move or run quickly
The linebacker blew past the tackle.
2
: to send forth a current of air or other gas
Don't blow on your soup.
3
a
: to make a sound by or as if by blowing
hear the train blow
b
of a wind instrument
: sound entry 2
a horn blowing
waiting for the whistle to blow
4
a
: boast
blowing about his accomplishments
b
: to talk in an empty or boastful way
… if it wasn't true, and he was just blowing, it wouldn't be so hard to take.—
James Jones
James Jones5
6
: to move or be carried by or as if by wind
just blew into town for the weekend
7
b
: to become damaged or destroyed as a result of an electrical overload
The fuse blew.
A Western Massachusetts Electric Company power substation blew yesterday afternoon, cutting power for 90 minutes to more than 9,100 customers …—Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson
c
of a tire
: to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture
—usually used with out
blew out a tire
1
a
: to set (gas or vapor) in motion
The fan blew hot air on us.
b
: to act on with a current of gas or vapor
The breeze blew my hair dry.
2
a
: to play or sound on (a wind instrument)
blow their horns
b
: to play (something) on a wind instrument
blow a tune
3
4
a
: to drive with a current of gas or vapor
The storm blew the boat off course.
b
: to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air
blow your nose
c
: to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing
blew him a kiss
5
a
: to distend with or as if with gas
blow a balloon
b
: to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air
blowing bubbles
6
of insects
: to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
wounds blown by flies
7
: to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
blow the safe open
8
a
: to put out of breath with exertion
Take care not to blow the horses.
b
: to let (an animal, such as a horse) pause to catch the breath
paused to blow the horses
9
a
: to expend (something, such as money) extravagantly
blew her allowance on a pair of jeans
b
: to treat with unusual expenditure
I'll blow you to a steak.
10
: to cause (a fuse) to blow
blew a fuse
11
: to rupture by too much pressure
blow a seal
12
a
: botch sense 1
actors blowing their lines
b
: to fail to keep or hold
They blew a big lead.
c
: to lose or miss (an opportunity) because of mistakes or poor judgment
blow a chance to make a good impression
13
: to leave hurriedly
blew town
14
: to propel with great force or speed
blew a fastball by the batter
15
US, informal
: to drive or speed through or past (a traffic signal or stop sign) without stopping
He blew several red lights and stop signs before smashing into a pole and a fence, cops said.—Jessica Simeone et al.
Jessica Simeone et al.1
: an instance of air moving with speed or force : a blowing of wind especially when strong or violent
3
: an act or instance of blowing (see blow entry 1)
gave his nose a good blow
a blow of the horn
4
metallurgy
a
: the time during which air is forced through molten metal to refine it
b
: the quantity of metal refined during that time
5
slang
: cocaine
1
: blossoms
2
: bloom entry 2 sense 1b
lilacs in full blow
1
: a forcible stroke delivered with a part of the body (such as the fist) or with an instrument
a mighty blow with his club
boxers exchanging blows
2
: a hostile act or state : combat
nations coming to blows
3
: a forcible or sudden act or effort : assault
… such a language … would solve many of his … difficulties at a single blow.—Edward Sapir
Edward Sapir4
: an unfortunate or calamitous happening
failure to land the job came as a blow
Phrases
blow a gasket
: to become enraged
slang
: vomit sense 1
The basement is the sort of dim, subterranean space the players don't seem to mind trashing, and every now and then, one of them will turn to a corner and urinate or blow chunks.—Jonathon Blum
Jonathon Blum
: to be favorable at one moment and adverse the next
: to release pent-up emotions
: to lose one's composure
: to reveal one's real identity
: to overwhelm one with wonder or bafflement
an idea that's sure to blow your mind
: to become violently angry : to lose one's temper
: to speak idly, misleadingly, or boastfully
: to call public or official attention to something (such as a wrongdoing) kept secret
—usually used with on
blew the whistle on the firm's unethical practices
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Noun (1)
Verb (2)
Noun (3)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of blow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAmanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court then dealt a severe blow to Smith’s plans for a spring trial by agreeing to take up a question of presidential immunity at the end of April.
—Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
International aid efforts were dealt a further blow this week when an Israeli airstrike killed seven workers from World Central Kitchen.
—Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
This has dealt another blow to a property sector already in turmoil.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
The loss in Istanbul was a particularly tough blow to Mr. Erdogan, given the vast budget, the large number of jobs its city hall controls and Mr. Erdogan’s personal ties to the city.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The loss of Monk came as another crippling blow for Sacramento with Huerter undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
The culture at the time was high on girl power, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and teen magazines offering advice on how to give the perfect blow job.
—Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
The tepid comeback is yet another blow to the Los Angeles economy, where countless ancillary businesses — florists, marketing agencies, dry cleaners — are supported by entertainment.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2024
He was ejected from his car when it was blown into some trees.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Sacramento’s last road trip of the season began Thursday when the Kings blew a 21-point first-half lead in New York.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
In the spring, spores blow or splash up onto newly emerging rose foliage and can germinate with conditions of as little as two to four hours of moisture.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Winds blow from the northwest around 10 to 20 mph, with some gusts past 30 mph.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The Royals blew the game open in the seventh inning by scoring eight times.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The dancers sound their rattles and maracas accompanied by the rhythm of musicians playing drums and blowing conch shells.
—Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
Once all the extensions have been installed, the stylist will blow dry and straighten again to ensure your natural hair and the tape-in extensions are fully blended.
—Tayler Adigun, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Calhoun switched sides from serving on the board to taking over the CEO role in January 2020, a time when the company was reeling from two airline accidents that resulted in the deaths of 346 people, dealing a significant blow to the manufacturer’s credibility.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court then dealt a severe blow to Smith’s plans for a spring trial by agreeing to take up a question of presidential immunity at the end of April.
—Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
International aid efforts were dealt a further blow this week when an Israeli airstrike killed seven workers from World Central Kitchen.
—Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
This has dealt another blow to a property sector already in turmoil.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
The loss in Istanbul was a particularly tough blow to Mr. Erdogan, given the vast budget, the large number of jobs its city hall controls and Mr. Erdogan’s personal ties to the city.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The loss of Monk came as another crippling blow for Sacramento with Huerter undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
The culture at the time was high on girl power, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and teen magazines offering advice on how to give the perfect blow job.
—Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
The tepid comeback is yet another blow to the Los Angeles economy, where countless ancillary businesses — florists, marketing agencies, dry cleaners — are supported by entertainment.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Things can blow your head off for all different kinds of reasons.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2024
He was ejected from his car when it was blown into some trees.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Sacramento’s last road trip of the season began Thursday when the Kings blew a 21-point first-half lead in New York.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
In the spring, spores blow or splash up onto newly emerging rose foliage and can germinate with conditions of as little as two to four hours of moisture.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Winds blow from the northwest around 10 to 20 mph, with some gusts past 30 mph.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The Royals blew the game open in the seventh inning by scoring eight times.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The dancers sound their rattles and maracas accompanied by the rhythm of musicians playing drums and blowing conch shells.
—Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024
Once all the extensions have been installed, the stylist will blow dry and straighten again to ensure your natural hair and the tape-in extensions are fully blended.
—Tayler Adigun, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1) and Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English blāwan; akin to Old High German blāen to blow, Latin flare
Verb (2) and Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English blōwan; akin to Old High German bluoen to bloom, Latin florēre to bloom, flor-, flos flower
Noun (3)
Middle English (northern dialect) blaw; probably akin to Old High German bliuwan to beat
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of blow was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing blow
Dictionary Entries Near blow
Cite this Entry
“Blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blow. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
blow
1 of 4 verb1
: to move or become moved especially rapidly or with power
wind blowing from the north
2
: to send forth a strong stream of air (as from the mouth)
blow on your soup
3
: to drive or become driven by a stream of air
trees blown down
4
a
: to make a sound or cause to sound by or as if by blowing
blow a horn
blow a whistle
b
: to project by blowing
blow a kiss
5
a
: to breathe hard or rapidly : pant
b
of a whale
: to force moisture-filled air out of the lungs through the blowhole
6
a
: to melt when overloaded
the fuse blew
b
: to cause (a fuse) to blow
7
: to open or break or tear apart by too much pressure
blew a seal
the tire blew out
8
: to clear by forcing air through
blew his nose
9
: to produce or shape by the action of blown or otherwise forced air
blow bubbles
blow glass
10
: to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
11
: to spend recklessly
blew all the money in one day
12
a
b
: to lose or miss (as an opportunity) especially through clumsiness
blew my chance
blow
2 of 4 noun1
: a blowing of wind especially when strong or violent
2
: a forcing of air from the mouth or nose or through an instrument
blow
4 of 4 noun1
: a hard hit using a part of the body or an instrument
2
: an unfriendly act : combat
come to blows
3
: a sudden act or effort
solve all our problems with one blow
4
: a sudden disaster
a heavy blow to the nation
Etymology
Verb
Old English blāwan "to blow, to move quickly"
Verb
Old English blōwan "to bloom"
Noun
Middle English blaw "stroke"
Medical Definition
blow
2 of 2 noun1
: the act of some insects of depositing eggs or larvae
also
: a larva so deposited (as in a wound)
—used chiefly of blowflies and flesh flies
2
: forcible ejection of air from the body (as in freeing the nose of mucus and debris)
3
slang
: cocaine
More from Merriam-Webster on blow
Nglish: Translation of blow for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of blow for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blow
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