flow
/fləʊ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To move smoothly and continuously in one direction. This can describe water, traffic, people, or time. It can also mean ideas or words come out easily.
- The river flows through the valley.
- Traffic flowed slowly after the accident.
- Her ideas flowed easily during the meeting.
noun
A smooth, steady movement of something. It can also mean the natural ease of speech, writing, or work.
- There was a steady flow of customers.
- She lost her flow while speaking.
- Keep the flow of the report clear.
Adinary Nuance
Flow is more about smooth movement than speed. Compared with move, it suggests a steady, natural motion. Compared with stream, it can describe both movement and an easy style of speaking or writing. In IELTS and academic writing, it often appears in phrases like 'the flow of ideas' or 'the flow of traffic'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- dòng chảy
- Spanish
- flujo
- Chinese
- 流动
- Japanese
- 流れ
- Korean
- 흐름
Etymology
From Old English flōwan, from a Germanic root meaning 'to flow'. It has been used in English since early times for moving water and other smooth movement.
Common phrases
flow of trafficflow of ideasin full flowmoney flow
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between flow and move?
- Move is general. Flow suggests smooth, steady movement without stops.
- Can flow be used for speech or writing?
- Yes. It can mean words or ideas come out easily and smoothly.
- Is flow common in academic writing?
- Yes. Writers often use it for traffic, ideas, data, and processes.
- Does flow always mean water movement?
- No. It can describe many things that move smoothly or naturally.