# arrow

/ˈæɹoʊ/ (US) · /ˈæɹəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arrow
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. weapon

noun · CEFR A2

a thin, pointed stick that you shoot from a bow.

For teachers: a projectile consisting of a straight shaft with a pointed head and feathers or vanes at the tail, designed to be shot from a bow.

- The hunter pulled back the string and aimed the arrow at the target.
- Archaeologists discovered several flint arrowheads, suggesting that the tribe used sophisticated arrows for hunting large game during the winter months.

### 2. directional symbol

noun · CEFR A2

a sign or symbol used to show a direction.

For teachers: a graphical symbol used to indicate direction or to point toward a specific object or location.

- Follow the yellow arrows on the floor to find the exit.
- The diagram uses a bold red arrow to illustrate the flow of capital from the central bank to commercial lenders.

### 3. computing/math

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a symbol used in computer code or math to connect two things.

For teachers: a symbol, often represented as '->', used in programming to access members of a structure or in mathematics to denote a mapping.

- In this code, the arrow shows that the variable points to a specific memory address.
- The programmer used an arrow operator to access the object's properties through its pointer, ensuring the data was retrieved efficiently.

### 4. to move fast

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to move very quickly and in a straight line.

For teachers: to move with great speed and directness toward a specific destination.

- The small bird arrowed through the trees and disappeared into its nest.
- The kingfisher arrowed toward the surface of the lake, striking the water with surgical precision to catch its prey.

### 5. to assign a task

verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Informal

to pick someone to do a job they do not want to do.

For teachers: to single out or nominate an individual for an undesirable task or responsibility.

- My boss arrowed me to write the meeting minutes again.
- I was hoping to leave early, but I got arrowed to stay behind and finish the monthly report.

Usage: Commonly used in Singaporean English (Singlish) as a transitive verb.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Singapore and Malaysia; learners in other regions should use 'volunteer' or 'assign' instead.

## Examples

- Follow the red arrow to find the exit.
- The archer pulled back the string and released the arrow toward the center of the target.
- In modern user interfaces, a small arrow often indicates a dropdown menu where users can find additional settings or navigation links.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.