Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

flow

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of flow

1 to move in a stream
  • Water was flowing over the dam at a tremendous rate.
Synonyms of flow

pour, roll, run, stream
Words Related to flow

arise, emanate, issue, spring

course, race, rush

fountain, gush, spout, spurt

deluge, engulf, flood, inundate, overflow, overrun, swamp

cascade, dribble, drip, gutter, riffle, ripple, sheet, trickle

flush, wash out
Near Antonyms of flow

clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, harden, set
Antonyms of flow

back up
2 to move or proceed smoothly and readily
  • As everyone relaxed, the conversation really started to flow.
Synonyms of flow

bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk
Words Related to flow

fly, race, rush, speed
Near Antonyms of flow

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge

shamble, shuffle

stamp, stomp, stump, tramp

labor, toil
Antonyms of flow

flounder, struggle

Synonym Discussion of flow

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence. spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.
    • an idea that springs to mind
arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.
    • new questions have arisen
    • slowly rose to prominence
originate implies a definite source or starting point.
    • the fire originated in the basement
derive implies a prior existence in another form.
    • the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast
flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.
    • words flowed easily from her pen
issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.
    • blood issued from the cut
emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.
    • reports emanating from the capital
proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.
    • advice that proceeds from the best of intentions
stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.
    • industries stemming from space research

Learn More about flow

  1. See words that rhyme with flow Dictionary: Definition of flow Medical Dictionary: Definition of flow Spanish Central: Translation of flow Nglish: Translation of flow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flow for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flow

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up flow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games