blow

noun countable

UK /bləʊ/

Word Forms

singular	blow
plural	blows

1
a hard hit from someone’s hand or an object
The victim was apparently killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object.
They knocked him down and pummelled him with blows.
Synonyms and related words
A hit with the hand or a weapon
a clip round the ear/earhole
backhander
bang
2
an event that spoils your chances of success
Losing a second match would be a major blow to his world title hopes.
deal a blow to something:
The closure of the factory dealt a devastating blow to the local economy.
Synonyms and related words
Miscellaneous bad things
a necessary evil
a sore point/spot/subject
bear/take the brunt of something
1. 2a
  an event that causes you to feel very sad, disappointed, or shocked
  a real blow:
  Her mother’s death was a real blow to her.
  come as a blow:
  It came as a bit of a blow when he found out she was married.
  Synonyms and related words
  Surprises and shocking events
  surprise
  shock
  blow
  Synonyms and related words
  Disappointments
  disappointment
  shame
  blow
3
an act of blowing air from your mouth or nose
Synonyms and related words
The lungs and breathing
airway
an intake of breath
artificial respiration

phrases

come to blows

blow

noun countable

US /bloʊ/

Word Forms

singular	blow
plural	blows

1
a hard hit from someone’s hand or an object
They knocked him down and pummeled him with blows.
The victim was apparently killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object.
Synonyms and related words
A hit with the hand or a weapon
backhander
blow
bonk
2
an event that spoils your chances of success
Losing a second match would be a major blow to his world title hopes.
deal a blow to something:
The closing of the factory dealt a devastating blow to the local economy.
Synonyms and related words
Miscellaneous bad things
a necessary evil
a sore point/spot/subject
bear/take the brunt of something
1. 2a
  an event that causes you to feel very sad, disappointed, or shocked
  a real blow:
  Her mother’s death was a real blow to her.
  come as a blow:
  It came as a terrible blow when he found out she was married.
  Synonyms and related words
  Surprises and shocking events
  surprise
  shock
  blow
  Synonyms and related words
  Disappointments
  disappointment
  shame
  blow
3
an act of blowing air from your mouth or nose
Synonyms and related words
The lungs and breathing
airway
an intake of breath
artificial respiration

phrases

come to blows

blow

verb

UK /bləʊ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	blow
he/she/it	blows
present participle	blowing
past tense	blew
past participle	blown

1
intransitive if wind or air blows, the air moves
A strong wind was blowing across the moors.
There’s an awful draught blowing in through this window.
Synonyms and related words
What the wind can do
blow
blow a gale
catch
1. 1a
  intransitive/transitive if something blows or is blown somewhere, the wind moves it there
  The wind was blowing snow along the street.
  A man died after being blown into the sea.
  Newspapers and plastic bags were blowing about in the wind.
  A strong gust of wind blew his hat off his head.
  Synonyms and related words
  What the wind can do
  blow
  blow a gale
  catch
2
intransitive to push out air from your mouth
He bent towards the candle and blew gently.
If your soup’s too hot, blow on it.
Synonyms and related words
To breathe, or to have difficulty breathing
breathe
blow
sigh
1. 2a
  transitive to move something by pushing out air from your mouth
  blow something off/away:
  She picked up a book and blew the dust off it.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to move something
  budge
  propel
  guide
2. 2b
  transitive to form something by pushing out air from your mouth
  blow bubbles:
  Two little boys were sitting on the steps, blowing bubbles.
  blow glass:
  Visitors can watch the men blowing glass in the workshop.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change the shape of something
  shape
  reshape
  form
3
intransitive/transitive to make a sound by pushing air through something such as a whistle or a musical instrument
The guard blew his whistle and the train started.
Synonyms and related words
To make miscellaneous sounds
babble
blow
burble
4
intransitive/transitive if something electrical blows, it stops working, usually because too much electricity has passed through it
The light bulb in the projector had blown.
A power surge blew all the fuses, and the house was plunged into darkness.
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
5

blow
or
blow out
intransitive/transitive if a tyre blows, or if you blow it, it bursts
Kathy was turning the corner when one of the front tyres blew.
Synonyms and related words
To destroy, or to be destroyed with an explosion
blow up
explode
blow apart
6
transitive informalto destroy your own chance of succeeding, or to waste a good opportunity
I’ve completely blown my diet with that piece of chocolate cake.
blow it:
We were in with a good chance for that contract but you’ve really blown it now!
Synonyms and related words
To waste or misuse a thing or opportunity
wear out
throw away
waste
7
transitive informalto spend a lot of money quickly on things that you do not need
He inherited a fortune but blew it on bad investments and a luxurious lifestyle.
Synonyms and related words
To spend or to pay money
disburse
spend
pay
8
transitive Americanvery informalto leave a place quickly
Let’s blow this joint.
Synonyms and related words
To leave a place or person quickly or suddenly
run off
dash off
make off

phrases

blow someone’s brains out

blow someone’s cover

blow a fuse/gasket

blow a gale

blow someone’s head off

blow a hole in something

blow (it)

blow (someone) a kiss

blow the lid off something

blow me

blow someone’s mind

blow your nose

blow someone/something out of the water

blow your (own) trumpet

blow (someone) a raspberry

blow something to bits/pieces

blow your top/stack

blow the whistle

phrasal verbs

blow apart

blow away

blow down

blow in

blow off

blow out

blow over

blow up

blow

verb

US /bloʊ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	blow
he/she/it	blows
present participle	blowing
past tense	blew
past participle	blown

1
intransitive if wind or air blows, the air moves
The wind was blowing from the sea.
A draft of cold air blew in through the open window.
Synonyms and related words
What the wind can do
blow
catch
drop
1. 1a
  intransitive/transitive if something blows or is blown somewhere, the wind moves it there
  The wind was blowing snow along the street.
  Newspapers and plastic bags were blowing around in the wind.
  A strong gust of wind blew his hat off his head.
  Synonyms and related words
  What the wind can do
  blow
  catch
  drop
2
intransitive to push out air from your mouth
He bent toward the candle and blew gently.
If your soup’s too hot, blow on it.
Synonyms and related words
To breathe, or to have difficulty breathing
breathe
blow
sigh
1. 2a
  transitive to move something by pushing out air from your mouth
  blow something off/away:
  She picked up a book and blew the dust off it.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to move something
  propel
  guide
  transfer
2. 2b
  transitive to form something by pushing out air from your mouth
  blow bubbles:
  Two little boys were sitting on the steps, blowing bubbles.
  blow glass:
  Visitors can watch the men blowing glass in the workshop.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change the shape of something
  reshape
  open up
  shape
3
intransitive/transitive to make a sound by pushing air through something such as a whistle or a musical instrument
The conductor blew his whistle and the train started.
As he entered the room, trumpets blew.
Synonyms and related words
To make miscellaneous sounds
babble
blow
burble
4
intransitive/transitive if something electrical blows, it stops working, usually because too much electricity has passed through it
The light bulb in the projector had blown.
A power surge blew all the fuses, and the house was plunged into darkness.
A sudden change in power can blow your TV.
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
5

blow
or
blow out
intransitive/transitive if a tire blows, or if you blow it, it bursts
Kathy was turning the corner when one of the front tires blew.
Synonyms and related words
To destroy, or to be destroyed with an explosion
blow up
explode
blow apart
6
transitive informalto destroy your own chance of succeeding, or to waste a good opportunity
I’ve completely blown my diet with that piece of chocolate cake.
blow it:
We had a good chance to get the contract but you’ve really blown it now!
Synonyms and related words
To waste or misuse a thing or opportunity
wear out
throw away
waste
7
transitive informalto spend a lot of money quickly on things that you do not need
He inherited a fortune but blew it on bad investments and a luxurious lifestyle.
Synonyms and related words
To spend or to pay money
disburse
spend
pay
8
transitive Americanvery informalto leave a place quickly
Let’s blow this joint.
Synonyms and related words
To leave a place or person quickly or suddenly
run off
dash off
make off

phrases

blow someone’s brains out

blow someone’s cover

blow someone’s head off

blow a hole in something

blow (someone) a kiss

blow the lid off something

blow me

blow someone’s mind

blow your nose

blow someone/something out of the water

blow smoke

blow something to bits/pieces

blow your top/stack

blow the whistle

phrasal verbs

blow apart

blow away

blow down

blow in

blow off

blow out

blow over

blow up

blow ​‌‌

blow ​‌‌

blow ​‌‌‌

blow

blow out

blow ​‌‌‌

blow

blow out

blow

blow

blow

blow