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Glite Dictionary
to flow off

to flow off

3.2
To move away from a surface in a steady stream, like water does
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : desaguar
  • She noticed the mud flow off the path after the heavy rain.
  • water flow off
  • rain flowing off
  • flows off the surface

Examples

  • After a while it begins to flow off the edges.

  • During the winter months when there are no leaves, you can sometimes see the water flowing off the mountain from Highway 68.

    Blog text (14)

  • The rain started to flow off the roof and onto the ground.

  • Water from the melting snow began to flow off the slope into the nearby stream.

Synonyms

to pour
vsto flow off
588 1.0

To make liquid flow in a steady stream from a container

is milder and usually slower than a strong steady outflow
to drain
vsto flow off
198 1.0

To let liquid flow away from something

is the natural gradual movement rather than active removal
to trickle
vsto flow off
70 3.4

To flow slowly in drops or a thin stream

is steadier and more continuous rather than slow irregular dripping
to run down
vsto flow off
31 2.5

To flow down a surface like water on a window

is broader, not limited to downward motion along surfaces
to run out
vsto flow off
28 1.3

Water or other liquid flows out of a container by accident

describes steady gradual movement rather than container emptying
to pour out
vsto flow off
22 2.9

Make liquid flow out of a container

describes gentler gradual movement, not large forceful discharge
to flow out
vsto flow off
16 2.9

Move or pour out in a steady stream, often a liquid

focuses more on slow gradual motion rather than sudden spill
to float away
vsto flow off
15 3.2

Move slowly through the air or water until out of sight

involves surface liquid movement rather than drifting through air
to run off
vsto flow off
7 2.9

Flow away from a surface into drains or rivers

is less about loss or waste and more about steady movement
to wash down
vsto flow off
4 3.3

To move along with a strong flow of water

is independent gradual movement rather than transport by a current
to ebb away
vsto flow off
1 5.6

To move back slowly, like water leaving a shore

means moving away steadily rather than specifically receding or reversing
to flow away
vsto flow off
1 3.2

Water moves away slowly in a steady stream

is the same gradual steady liquid movement concept
to ebb out
vsto flow off
5.6

Move back, like a tide, or become less strong over time

is forward movement from a place rather than a backward retreat
to ebb off
vsto flow off
6.5

To flow back or become less strong slowly

describes liquid leaving steadily rather than a general decline

How Fast

to gush
26 3.2
to flow off
3.2
to seep
82 2.7
to trickle
70 3.4

Surface Forms

flow off infinitive
flowed off past
flowed off past participle
flowing off present participle
flows off third person singular

Morphology

flow + off

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'flow' (to move steadily in a stream) with the particle 'off' (away from a surface or place): together they describe liquid moving away from a surface. This verb+particle pattern is a common, spatially compositional construction found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will understand it.

Etymology

Flow off gives a simple image: imagine rainwater running down a roof and leaving the surface in a thin stream. The verb flow is the moving liquid and off shows it going away, so the phrase means 'to move away from a place gradually'.