ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blew

v.
US //ˈbɫu// UK //blˈuː// blew
  1. 1 air moving (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    the past tense of blow; used when air or wind moved.

    the simple past tense of blow, describing the movement of a current of air.

    Example

    A strong wind blew through the valley all night long.

    Example

    A sudden, icy gust blew the heavy oak doors open, startling the guests who were gathered in the main hall.

    Usage

    The past tense of the irregular verb 'blow'.
  2. 2 spending money (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    spent a large amount of money very quickly on things you did not need.

    the simple past tense of blow, used informally to describe squandering or spending money recklessly.

    Example

    He blew his entire paycheck on a new pair of designer shoes.

    Example

    After receiving his inheritance, he unfortunately blew the majority of the capital on speculative investments and luxury travel within a single year.
  3. 3 making a sound (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    forced air through a whistle or instrument to make a noise.

    the simple past tense of blow, referring to the act of forcing air through a device to produce a signal or music.

    Example

    The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the match.

    Example

    The trumpeter blew a triumphant fanfare as the procession entered the cathedral, the sound echoing off the high stone arches.
Origin

From Middle English blew, from Old English blēow, from Proto-West Germanic *blē.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026