What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flow
Example
The river flows gently towards the sea. [flow: verb]
Example
The flow of traffic was disrupted by the accident. [flow: noun]
Example
Their conversation flowed effortlessly throughout the evening. [flowed: past tense]
stream
Example
The stream flowed through the valley, creating a peaceful sound. [stream: verb]
Example
A stream of cars passed by on the highway. [stream: noun]
Example
I watched a live stream of the concert on my computer. [stream: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flow is more commonly used than stream in everyday language. Flow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stream is less common and often used in specific domains such as technology or nature.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between flow and stream?
Both flow and stream can be used in formal and informal contexts, but flow is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels.
