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to blow

to blow

229 1.0
To make a sound by forcing air through an instrument or whistle
  • verb
  • /bloʊ/
translation icon : soplar
  • The murals show one man banging a drum, while others blow flutes and shake maracas.
  • blow a whistle
  • blow a horn
  • blow a flute

Well, when the whistle blew, they they backed off.

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Examples

  • When the teacher calls "stop" or blows a whistle, everyone must come to a full "stop."

    Academic text (1996)
  • Did you really blow the horn at me, Mark?

  • And if there were any other horns blown that night, Ben never heard them.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Not necessary when you have a bagpiper blowing out your window.

  • Another idea is to have students "hiss" or "blow through" music that they are studying and performing.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Wind players can practice breathing without blowing their instruments to establish the meter and rhythm.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Have students breathe in steadily for four slow beats and blow out steadily for four slow beats.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The shawm player walks slowly in front, cheeks puffed out, blowing incessantly without pausing for breath.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Did you hear him blow the trumpet during the concert last night?

  • As the parade went on, she watched the band blow their brass instruments proudly.

Synonyms

to whistle
vsto blow
91 1.6

To make a high sound by blowing air through your lips or a small device

is broader covering sound made on various instruments not only high pitched signals
to pipe
vsto blow
6 5.4

To play a tune on a small wind instrument like a flute

is broader and covers making sounds from various instruments not only simple melodies
to trumpet
vsto blow
3 2.5

Play a brass instrument by blowing into it

is the general action of making sounds with air across many instruments
to give a whistle
vsto blow
1 4.2

Make a short high sound with lips or a small device to get attention

is about making sounds on many instruments rather than a short attention signal

Idioms

50 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

To beat someone or something completely by a lot

8 4.7

Make bad news or a loss easier to accept

4 6.8

To surprise and beat someone or something by a large amount

To seriously damage an idea or reputation

2 8.6

Suddenly get very angry and show it

1 8.4

To change your feelings or opinion often and without warning

to blow a fuse
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there

To talk proudly about your own abilities or achievements

1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

to suck and blow
  • Informal
1 9.9

To try to do two opposite things at the same time

to blow one's load
  • Offensive
9.9

Informal and rude way to use up all your energy or resources at once

8.0

To suddenly become very angry

9.9

To spend all your money at once

Make a fire burn hotter by blowing air on hot coals

8.8

To make someone very impressed or be much better than something

To take action that supports justice

Phrasal Verbs

534 2.7

To cause something to explode violently

to blow off
  • Informal
103 7.0

To not attend or take part in something you should, often to do something else instead

52 3.6

To become less serious or be forgotten over time

50 2.4

Stop a flame by breathing on it

39 5.6

To become detached and carried away by a strong force

To tell the authorities or the public about wrongdoing

to blow up
  • Texting
26 3.4

To become very popular quickly, often online

to blow out
  • Specialized
26 4.1

Stop working because of too much electricity or heat

23 2.7

To fill something with air or gas until it gets larger

Air that moves quickly through a room or open window

to blow up
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

14 3.5

Do something active, like go for a run, to feel less angry or stressed

to blow smoke
  • Informal
11 9.0

Say things that are not true to make people believe you

to blow a chance
  • Informal
8 4.9

Miss a good opportunity by making a mistake

to blow the lid off
  • Literature
8 6.8

Reveal secret information that shocks people

to blow out
  • Specialized
7 8.1

Burst open and send out oil, gas, or water

7 2.7

To swell or become larger suddenly

7 2.8

To dry hair with a hair dryer to style it

6 9.9

Throw up forcefully when you feel very sick

4 3.7

To make something seem more important or bigger than it is

To touch your lips with one hand then move that hand toward someone to show love

to blow town
  • Informal
2 9.8

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble

2 4.3

To add more details to an idea or story

1 3.4

To make a photo or picture larger so people can see it

1 6.5

Tell a secret and spoil a planned surprise

To make a small round pocket of air in soapy water by puffing with your mouth

A plan or action that fails suddenly and causes big problems for the person who planned it

1 8.2

To disappear completely because of neglect or bad weather

to blow wide open
  • Literature
1 6.5

To make a secret suddenly become known

to blow savings
  • Informal
1 6.9

To spend saved money quickly on things you do not need

Make someone have bad back pain from lifting something heavy

to blow back out
  • Informal
8.5

To hurt your back badly by lifting or moving something heavy

To make small round balls of air by pushing air through gum in your mouth

Compounds

11 2.7

A small handheld electric device that blows warm air to dry and style hair

low blow
  • Offensive
8 5.5

A remark or action that unfairly hurts someone's feelings

blow-by-blow
  • Literature
5 7.4

A detailed step-by-step description of an event as it happens

Joe Blow
  • Informal
2 4.8

A person who is like most everyday people

2 7.3

A sudden event that causes great harm or shock to plans and feelings

1 7.2

A large fly with a shiny blue-green body that lays eggs on dead animals and in wounds

by-blow
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A child whose parents are not married to each other

blow gas
  • Specialized
8.8

Gas released from a generator during maintenance or venting

blow molding machine
  • Specialized
6.3

A machine that makes hollow plastic items like bottles by heating plastic and using air to shape it

blow tube
  • Specialized
8.2

A tube that sends air into a flame to make it hotter

8.4

A tube like a straw that sends small darts when someone blows into it

A machine that makes hollow plastic items like bottles by using air to push heated plastic into a mold

How Loud

to blare
50 3.8
to blow
229 1.0
toot
6 2.9
to sigh
80 1.9

Surface Forms

blow infinitive
blowing present participle
blows third person singular
blew past
blown past participle

Etymology

Blow comes from the old English blāwan, meaning 'to move air', which helps you imagine making sound by breath. That's why you 'blow' a whistle or trumpet to make music.