FLOWS Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

flows 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flow

as in streams

to move in a stream water was flowing over the dam at a tremendous rate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in glides

to move or proceed smoothly and readily as everyone relaxed, the conversation really started to flow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flows

2 of 2

noun

plural of flow

as in floods

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of flows

Verb

They were never designed to change how work flows through a function. — Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 But the Colorado River water that flows there from the canal will not be cut like many nearby cities. — Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 That jumper pulls out a second name, and so on, and from the list flows all the serendipity of the fire season. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Iran still has enough drones and missiles to fire at vessels transiting the vital energy waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows, effectively controlling much of the traffic in the strait. — Konstantin Toropin, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Iran also has found leverage through its own strikes in the critical Strait of Hormuz, the vital energy waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Iran still has enough drones and missiles to fire at vessels transiting the waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows. — Konstantin Toropin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 For the traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony, their priest translated Sanskrit to English in real time, and the mandap was designed as a circle to represent how life flows into itself for eternity. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026 Millions of people across the floodplains of the Indian subcontinent depend on the water that flows downstream. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Noun

About 20% of the world's oil flows throw the strait, and Iran's ability to block the flow of tankers has roiled the global economy, sending oil prices soaring. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flows

Verb

As starlight streams through the telescope, those actuators subtly reshape the mirrors in real time, correcting for imperfections in the telescope's optics smaller than the width of a strand of DNA.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
The World Cup next year will stream on Netflix, while TNT Sports has the rights to upcoming USWNT matches and Paramount+ streams most Women’s Super League contests.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of streams

Verb

Viewed through a singular perspective, the camera glides with measured precision, reflecting her focus and quiet intensity.

— Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Start your visit with a ride on the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola, which glides above the treetops to reveal sweeping views of the Presidential Range painted in brilliant shades of crimson, amber and gold.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of glides

Noun

The droughts, floods, and crop yield reductions brought on by El Niño represent one of the primary risk factors.

— , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The advancing gas front improves sweep efficiency by penetrating tight, unreached reservoir compartments that standard water-injection floods bypass during secondary extraction campaigns.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of floods

Verb

When summer hits and strong afternoon light pours through west- and south-facing glass, all that natural light turns into heat and your electric bill climbs with it.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Set on a picturesque Japanese island, the series follows Karin Shirahama, a strawberry farmer who pours everything into her land, and Lee Yubin, a city dweller whose fortunes have taken a sharp turn for the worse.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of pours

Verb

Prompt tuning, evaluation maintenance, regression testing when the underlying model updates and content that drifts out of date all require ongoing attention.

— Antony P Gregory, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
As Ari drifts through the gathering, some guests seem to disappear.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of drifts

Noun

The rocks and melted water suddenly swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing torrents of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream in Tibet and Nepal.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Footage shows torrents of mud and debris sweeping through settlements and carrying buildings and vehicles with them.

— Milad Haghani, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of torrents

Verb

There’s optimism Kansas could have an underrated defense, TCU cruises to a relative easy 30-plus points.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Traveling such vast distances between our solar system's most remote objects means New Horizons often cruises for months at a time with little to do other than passively collect data.

— Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of cruises

Noun

Weeks after overflows from Atlanta’s sewer tunnels contributed to the deaths of thousands of fish on the Chattahoochee River, the city’s Department of Watershed Management says its investigating another fish kill on a different river.

— Drew Kann, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
As Connecticut’s climate changes, more frequent and intense storms have lead to more overflows.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026