1
a
of air
(1)
: to be in motion
A breeze blew gently.
(2)
: to move with speed or force
The wind was blowing.
b
: to move or run quickly
The linebacker blew past the tackle.
2
: to send forth a current of air or other gas
Don't blow on your soup.
3
a
: to make a sound by or as if by blowing
hear the train blow
b
of a wind instrument
: sound entry 2
a horn blowing
waiting for the whistle to blow
4
a
: boast
blowing about his accomplishments
b
: to talk in an empty or boastful way
… if it wasn't true, and he was just blowing, it wouldn't be so hard to take.—
James Jones
James Jones5
6
: to move or be carried by or as if by wind
just blew into town for the weekend
7
b
: to become damaged or destroyed as a result of an electrical overload
The fuse blew.
A Western Massachusetts Electric Company power substation blew yesterday afternoon, cutting power for 90 minutes to more than 9,100 customers …—Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson
c
of a tire
: to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture
—usually used with out
blew out a tire
1
a
: to set (gas or vapor) in motion
The fan blew hot air on us.
b
: to act on with a current of gas or vapor
The breeze blew my hair dry.
2
a
: to play or sound on (a wind instrument)
blow their horns
b
: to play (something) on a wind instrument
blow a tune
3
4
a
: to drive with a current of gas or vapor
The storm blew the boat off course.
b
: to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air
blow your nose
c
: to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing
blew him a kiss
5
a
: to distend with or as if with gas
blow a balloon
b
: to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air
blowing bubbles
6
of insects
: to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
wounds blown by flies
7
: to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
blow the safe open
8
a
: to put out of breath with exertion
Take care not to blow the horses.
b
: to let (an animal, such as a horse) pause to catch the breath
paused to blow the horses
9
a
: to expend (something, such as money) extravagantly
blew her allowance on a pair of jeans
b
: to treat with unusual expenditure
I'll blow you to a steak.
10
: to cause (a fuse) to blow
blew a fuse
11
: to rupture by too much pressure
blow a seal
12
a
: botch sense 1
actors blowing their lines
b
: to fail to keep or hold
They blew a big lead.
c
: to lose or miss (an opportunity) because of mistakes or poor judgment
blow a chance to make a good impression
13
: to leave hurriedly
blew town
14
: to propel with great force or speed
blew a fastball by the batter
15
US, informal
: to drive or speed through or past (a traffic signal or stop sign) without stopping
He blew several red lights and stop signs before smashing into a pole and a fence, cops said.—Jessica Simeone et al.
Jessica Simeone et al.1
: an instance of air moving with speed or force : a blowing of wind especially when strong or violent
3
: an act or instance of blowing (see blow entry 1)
gave his nose a good blow
a blow of the horn
4
metallurgy
a
: the time during which air is forced through molten metal to refine it
b
: the quantity of metal refined during that time
5
slang
: cocaine
1
: blossoms
2
: bloom entry 2 sense 1b
lilacs in full blow
1
: a forcible stroke delivered with a part of the body (such as the fist) or with an instrument
a mighty blow with his club
boxers exchanging blows
2
: a hostile act or state : combat
nations coming to blows
3
: a forcible or sudden act or effort : assault
… such a language … would solve many of his … difficulties at a single blow.—Edward Sapir
Edward Sapir4
: an unfortunate or calamitous happening
failure to land the job came as a blow
Phrases
blow a gasket
: to become enraged
slang
: vomit sense 1
The basement is the sort of dim, subterranean space the players don't seem to mind trashing, and every now and then, one of them will turn to a corner and urinate or blow chunks.—Jonathon Blum
Jonathon Blum
: to be favorable at one moment and adverse the next
: to release pent-up emotions
: to lose one's composure
: to reveal one's real identity
: to overwhelm one with wonder or bafflement
an idea that's sure to blow your mind
: to become violently angry : to lose one's temper
: to speak idly, misleadingly, or boastfully
: to call public or official attention to something (such as a wrongdoing) kept secret
—usually used with on
blew the whistle on the firm's unethical practices
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Noun (1)
Verb (2)
Noun (3)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of blow in a Sentence
Verb (1)
that horse was really blowing after the race
each year he blows his holiday bonus on a trip to Las Vegas
a huge crater was formed when the volcano last blew
one false move and we would be blown to bits
that car blew past us as if we were standing still
he keeps blowing every job interview that comes his way
another self-made millionaire blowing about how much he'd achieved
Noun (1)
the ocean blows that sweep over the island are so strong that only the hardiest shrubs can grow there
Verb (2)
longing for a grassy field in some far-off land where the wildflowers blow
Noun (3)
he was dizzy for the rest of the day after the blow to his head
Recent Examples on the WebDanielle Chemtob, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Boeing factory workers voted to reject a contract offer and continue a more than five-week strike on Wednesday, in a blow to new CEO Kelly Ortberg's plan to shore up the finances of the struggling planemaker.
—Daniel Catchpole, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
As a performer known for offering insightful, comedic takes on current events, often in the style of investigative journalism, to be branded as a fabricator seemed like a knockout blow.
—Will Digravio, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
Walmart’s new delivery offering could be another blow to drugstore chains, which are falling out of favor with consumers in a trend that has hit their profits and stock prices and forced them to reconsider their strategies.
—Melissa Repko,annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blow 
Noun
Boeing’s striking factory workers voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer on Wednesday night, a major blow to the plane maker, which reported a $6 billion quarterly loss earlier in the day.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Boeing factory workers voted to reject a contract offer and continue a more than five-week strike on Wednesday, in a blow to new CEO Kelly Ortberg's plan to shore up the finances of the struggling planemaker.
—Daniel Catchpole, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
As a performer known for offering insightful, comedic takes on current events, often in the style of investigative journalism, to be branded as a fabricator seemed like a knockout blow.
—Will Digravio, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
Walmart’s new delivery offering could be another blow to drugstore chains, which are falling out of favor with consumers in a trend that has hit their profits and stock prices and forced them to reconsider their strategies.
—Melissa Repko,annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near blow
Cite this Entry
“Blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blow. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blow
1 of 4 verb1
: to move or become moved especially rapidly or with power
wind blowing from the north
2
: to send forth a strong stream of air (as from the mouth)
blow on your soup
3
: to drive or become driven by a stream of air
trees blown down
4
a
: to make a sound or cause to sound by or as if by blowing
blow a horn
blow a whistle
b
: to project by blowing
blow a kiss
5
a
: to breathe hard or rapidly : pant
b
of a whale
: to force moisture-filled air out of the lungs through the blowhole
6
a
: to melt when overloaded
the fuse blew
b
: to cause (a fuse) to blow
7
: to open or break or tear apart by too much pressure
blew a seal
the tire blew out
8
: to clear by forcing air through
blew his nose
9
: to produce or shape by the action of blown or otherwise forced air
blow bubbles
blow glass
10
: to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
11
: to spend recklessly
blew all the money in one day
12
a
b
: to lose or miss (as an opportunity) especially through clumsiness
blew my chance
blow
2 of 4 noun1
: a blowing of wind especially when strong or violent
2
: a forcing of air from the mouth or nose or through an instrument
blow
4 of 4 noun1
: a hard hit using a part of the body or an instrument
2
: an unfriendly act : combat
come to blows
3
: a sudden act or effort
solve all our problems with one blow
4
: a sudden disaster
a heavy blow to the nation
Etymology
Verb
Old English blāwan "to blow, to move quickly"
Verb
Old English blōwan "to bloom"
Noun
Middle English blaw "stroke"
Medical Definition
blow
2 of 2 noun1
: the act of some insects of depositing eggs or larvae
also
: a larva so deposited (as in a wound)
—used chiefly of blowflies and flesh flies
2
: forcible ejection of air from the body (as in freeing the nose of mucus and debris)
3
slang
: cocaine
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