stream

verb

streamed; streaming; streams

intransitive verb

1

a

: to flow in or as if in a stream

cold air streaming through the cracks in the windows

sunlight streaming through the clouds

b

: to leave a bright trail

a meteor streamed through the sky

2

a

: to exude a bodily fluid profusely

her eyes were streaming

b

: to become wet with a discharge of bodily fluid

streaming with perspiration

3

: to trail out at full length

her hair streaming back as she ran

4

: to pour in large numbers

complaints came streaming in

transitive verb

1

: to emit freely or in a stream

his eyes streamed tears

2

: to display (something, such as a flag) by waving

3

: to transfer (digital data, such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback: such as

a

: to watch (a video) on a streaming service

… passed the time watching the same shows as he would have streamed at home.

—Greg Egan

b

: to broadcast (a video) for others to watch on a stream

I went live, but there was no one in my room. Just me. Streaming myself live. Shirtless. To no one.

—Will Dennis

Synonyms of stream

• pour

Examples of stream in a Sentence

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

I could feel the cold air streaming in through the crack in the window.

Sunlight was streaming in through the window.

rays of light streaming through the clouds

His face streamed with sweat.

People streamed into the hall.

Immigrants streamed into the country.

Hundreds of letters streamed in from listeners.

Recent Examples on the Web

It can also be streamed on Paramount+. —Vogue, 7 June 2026

Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 June 2026

The Tony Awards, which honor the best of Broadway, are airing live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ from Radio City Music Hall. —ABC News, 7 June 2026

The 79th annual Tony Awards return to Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday, with Pink hosting the CBS ceremony, which also streams on Paramount+. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing stream

• bit stream
• counter-stream
• jet stream
• live-stream
• stream of consciousness
• third-stream

Rhymes for stream

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

Kids Definition

stream

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrēm 

1

: a body of running water (as a river or brook) flowing on the earth

also : any body of flowing fluid (as water or gas)

2

: a steady flow

a stream of words

3

: a ray of light

stream

2 of 2 verb

1

: to flow or cause to flow in or as if in a stream

2

a

: to give off a bodily fluid in large amounts

her eyes were streaming

b

: to become wet with a discharge of bodily fluid

streaming with perspiration

3

: to trail out at full length

hair streaming in the wind

4

: to pour in large numbers

complaints came streaming in

5

: to transfer (digital data, such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback

Medical Definition

stream

noun

ˈstrēm 

: an unbroken current or flow (as of water, a bodily fluid, or a gas) see bloodstream, midstream