# blew

/ˈbɫu/ (US) · /blˈuː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. air moving

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- A strong wind blew through the valley all night long.
- 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. spending money

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- He blew his entire paycheck on a new pair of designer shoes.
- After receiving his inheritance, he unfortunately blew the majority of the capital on speculative investments and luxury travel within a single year.

### 3. making a sound

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the match.
- The trumpeter blew a triumphant fanfare as the procession entered the cathedral, the sound echoing off the high stone arches.

## Examples

- The wind blew my hat off my head.
- She blew out the candles on her birthday cake after making a secret wish.
- A sudden gust of wind blew through the open window, scattering the loose papers across the office floor before anyone could react.

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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.