ebb and flow

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word ebb and flow. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word ebb and flow, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say ebb and flow in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word ebb and flow you have here. The definition of the word ebb and flow will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofebb and flow, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Noun

ebb and flow (plural ebbs and flows)

  1. The flowing out and in of the tide.
  2. (figuratively) A large flowing out and in, or any waxing and waning of fortunes or activity.
    • October 29 2001, The New Yorker Online
      I want to hear the roaring ebb and flow of Broadway.

Translations

Verb

ebb and flow (third-person singular simple present ebbs and flows, present participle ebbing and flowing, simple past and past participle ebbed and flowed)

  1. To alternately ebb and flow, as:
    1. (of the tides) To recede and advance.
    2. (figuratively) To wax and wane.
      • 2025 June 8, Jonathan Jurejko, “Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final”, in BBC:
        The quality of his service game varied as the contest ebbed and flowed, but landing 54% of his first serves over the whole match was a telling statistic.

See also