B2 verb Neutral

blow

/bloʊ/

To move along or be carried by a current of air, or to force air out through the mouth. In academic and technical contexts, it often describes the movement of gases under pressure or the sudden failure of a mechanical component.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The wind is starting to blow harder now that the sun has set.

The wind is starting to blow harder now that the sun has set.

2

The leaves were blown across the courtyard during the storm.

The leaves were blown across the courtyard during the storm.

3

I can't believe I blew the audition; I was so nervous.

I can't believe I blew the audition; I was so nervous.

Word Family

Noun
blow
Verb
blow
Adjective
blown
Related
blower
💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'blowing' out birthday candles—you are using a current of air to move or change something.

Quick Quiz

The strong winds _____ several trees down during the hurricane last night.

Correct!

The correct answer is: blew

Examples

1

The wind is starting to blow harder now that the sun has set.

everyday

The wind is starting to blow harder now that the sun has set.

2

The leaves were blown across the courtyard during the storm.

formal

The leaves were blown across the courtyard during the storm.

3

I can't believe I blew the audition; I was so nervous.

informal

I can't believe I blew the audition; I was so nervous.

4

When the internal pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the relief valve will blow to prevent an explosion.

academic

When the internal pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the relief valve will blow to prevent an explosion.

5

Market analysts fear that the sudden change in policy might blow the merger deal.

business

Market analysts fear that the sudden change in policy might blow the merger deal.

Word Family

Noun
blow
Verb
blow
Adjective
blown
Related
blower

Common Collocations

wind blows wind blows
blow a fuse blow a fuse
blow a whistle blow a whistle
blow out of proportion blow out of proportion
blow a chance blow a chance

Common Phrases

blow your mind

blow your mind

blow off steam

blow off steam

blow the whistle

blow the whistle

Often Confused With

blow vs blue

Blue is a color, while blow is the action of moving air; they are homophones in some dialects but different parts of speech.

blow vs flow

Flow refers to the continuous movement of liquid or traffic, whereas blow specifically involves air or gas.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'blow' to describe natural air movement or the act of exhaling forcefully. In figurative use, it often implies wasting an opportunity or making a major mistake.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'blowed' as the past tense; however, the correct forms are 'blew' (past) and 'blown' (past participle).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'blowing' out birthday candles—you are using a current of air to move or change something.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old English 'blāwan', meaning to blow, breathe, or make a sound with a horn.

Grammar Patterns

Irregular verb: blow, blew, blown Often followed by prepositions like 'away', 'out', or 'up' Can be used transitively (blow the whistle) or intransitively (the wind blows)
🌍

Cultural Context

The phrase 'blow the whistle' comes from sports but is widely used in Western culture to describe exposing corruption or illegal activity.

Quick Quiz

The strong winds _____ several trees down during the hurricane last night.

Correct!

The correct answer is: blew

Related Words

anticisist

C1

To actively challenge, subvert, or dismantle cisnormative assumptions and institutional gender binaries. This verb describes the proactive process of advocating for gender-diverse perspectives by questioning established social norms.

intermovy

C1

The dynamic and reciprocal movement or exchange occurring between different groups, systems, or states. It specifically highlights the fluid transition and interplay of elements as they shift from one context to another.

exmarist

C1

A person who was formerly a member of the Marist Brothers or the Society of Mary, or a former student who attended a Marist educational institution. It refers to someone who maintains an identity or connection with the Marist tradition after leaving the formal organization.

unmanfy

C1

To deprive someone or something of traditionally masculine qualities, strength, or vigor. It is often used figuratively to describe the process of making a person or a concept appear weak, vulnerable, or less assertive than expected.

obvolvence

C1

The state or condition of being wrapped, enveloped, or enshrouded by a surrounding layer. It is used both literally in biological contexts to describe a covering and metaphorically to describe being obscured or hidden.

oblucation

C1

To render something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible, especially through the use of complex language or ambiguous details. It involves intentionally making a concept difficult to perceive or understand to hide the truth or avoid directness.

overprivine

C1

A formal noun referring to the state or condition of possessing excessive social or economic privilege, often to the point where it diminishes one's ability to empathize with others. It describes a structural or individual abundance of advantages that creates a disconnect from the realities of the less fortunate.

intrapaty

C1

Refers to activities, discussions, or conflicts occurring within a single political party rather than between different parties. It describes the internal dynamics, factionalism, or cohesion among members of the same political organization.

subvadful

C1

To subvadful means to perform a comprehensive and intensive verification of the fundamental layers of a system, argument, or physical structure. It implies a deep-dive analysis that goes beyond surface-level inspection to ensure that hidden foundations are entirely secure and functional.

dislegly

C1

A test-specific term used to describe something that is not permitted by law or established rules. It characterizes actions, behaviors, or documents that violate a formal code or legal standard within a controlled linguistic simulation.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free