blown
The past participle of the verb 'blow,' referring to something that has been moved by air currents or destroyed by an explosion. In academic and figurative contexts, it often describes an idea that has been discredited or a situation that has been significantly exaggerated.
Examples
3 of 5The fallen leaves have been blown into a pile in the corner of the garden.
The fallen leaves have been moved by the wind into a pile in the corner of the garden.
The initial hypothesis was effectively blown apart by the results of the second trial.
The initial hypothesis was completely discredited by the results of the second trial.
I was totally blown away by how much effort you put into this surprise.
I was extremely impressed by how much effort you put into this surprise.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember: 'Blew' is the past, but 'blown' has an 'n' for 'now finished' or 'now done' (past participle).
Quick Quiz
The impact of the small data error was ______ out of proportion by the news outlets.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blown
Examples
The fallen leaves have been blown into a pile in the corner of the garden.
everydayThe fallen leaves have been moved by the wind into a pile in the corner of the garden.
The initial hypothesis was effectively blown apart by the results of the second trial.
formalThe initial hypothesis was completely discredited by the results of the second trial.
I was totally blown away by how much effort you put into this surprise.
informalI was extremely impressed by how much effort you put into this surprise.
The importance of the minor discrepancy was blown out of proportion in the subsequent analysis.
academicThe importance of the small error was exaggerated in the following analysis.
The entire marketing budget was blown on a single television advertisement that failed to convert.
businessThe entire marketing budget was spent wastefully on a single television advertisement.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
blown it
made a major mistake or missed a great opportunity
blown a fuse
to suddenly become very angry
blown over
when a problem or situation finishes or is forgotten
Often Confused With
'Blew' is the simple past tense, whereas 'blown' is the past participle used with 'have/had' or in passive voice.
There is no such word as 'blowen'; learners often mistakenly follow the pattern of 'frozen' or 'chosen'.
Usage Notes
As a past participle, 'blown' must be used with an auxiliary verb like 'have', 'has', 'had', or 'is/was' for passive voice. It is frequently used in the idiom 'blown out of proportion' in critical writing.
Common Mistakes
The most common error is using 'blowed' as the past participle, which is non-standard and incorrect in academic English.
Memory Tip
Remember: 'Blew' is the past, but 'blown' has an 'n' for 'now finished' or 'now done' (past participle).
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'blāwan', which means to blow or breathe air.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western media, the phrase 'blown out of proportion' is frequently used to criticize sensationalism in news reporting.
Quick Quiz
The impact of the small data error was ______ out of proportion by the news outlets.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blown
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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