Blow vs. Breeze: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
Blow refers to a strong current of air or to expel air forcefully, while a breeze is a gentle, mild wind. Both denote airflow but vary in strength and context.
Key Differences
Blow is a versatile term that can refer to a strong gust of wind or the act of expelling air, typically with some force or effort. It is often associated with powerful or abrupt air movements and can also be used as a verb describing actions like blowing a whistle or blowing bubbles. Conversely, a breeze is a light, gentle wind, usually pleasant and refreshing. It is associated with mild and soft wind movements and is typically considered a noun, representing a natural atmospheric phenomenon.
In another perspective, Blow can refer to a sudden impact or strike, as in a physical blow, revealing its versatile usage in the English language. The word blow can be associated with sudden, often powerful actions or occurrences. In contrast, the term breeze, remaining consistent, generally signifies a gentle and usually pleasant wind, invoking images of comfort and ease. Breeze rarely deviates from its association with a mild flow of air, keeping its application more focused and specific.
Considering application in sentences, “blow” has varied usage, like “The wind began to blow strongly,” reflecting its reference to a stronger air current, or “He had to blow the dust off the old book,” indicating the action of expelling air. On the other hand, “breeze” remains consistent with sentences like, “A cool breeze flowed through the open window,” maintaining its representation of a gentle and usually refreshing wind.
In terms of flexibility, blow is highly versatile, manifesting in various contexts and forms in the English language, sometimes even implying a setback or difficulty. In contrast, breeze maintains a narrower spectrum, majorly representing a light wind and occasionally, metaphorically, something easy to do, like “Completing that task was a breeze,” highlighting its restricted yet concise applicability.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Can be a verb or a noun.
Primarily used as a noun.
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Strength
Refers to a strong current of air.
Denotes a gentle, light wind.
Connotation
Can be abrupt or forceful.
Usually considered pleasant and refreshing.
Versatility
Has varied meanings and usages.
Mainly has one specific meaning.
Metaphoric Usage
Can imply a setback or difficulty.
Can imply something easy to accomplish.
Blow and Breeze Definitions
Blow
To expel air forcefully.
“He had to blow the candles out.”
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Breeze
A light gentle wind.
“The breeze rustled the leaves.”
Blow
A strong gust of wind.
“A strong blow bent the trees.”
Breeze
Something easy or effortless.
“Solving that puzzle was a breeze.”
Blow
A sudden, unfortunate occurrence.
“Losing his job was a major blow.”
Breeze
To move in a self-confident manner.
“He breezed into the room with confidence.”
Blow
To be in a state of motion. Used of the air or of wind.
Breeze
To pass quickly.
“Time breezes by when you’re having fun.”
Blow
To move along or be carried by the wind
Her hat blew away.
Breeze
To spread rapidly.
“News about the incident breezed through the town.”
Blow
To move with or have strong winds
The storm blew all night.
Breeze
A light current of air; a gentle wind.
Blow
To expel a current of air, as from the mouth or from a bellows.
Breeze
Any of five winds with speeds of from 4 to 27 knots (5 to 31 miles per hour; 7 to 50 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale.
Blow
To produce a sound by expelling a current of air, as in sounding a wind instrument or a whistle.
Breeze
(Informal) Something, such as a task, that is easy to do.
Blow
To breathe hard; pant.
Breeze
The refuse left when coke or charcoal is made.
Blow
To release air or gas suddenly; burst or explode
The tire blew when it hit the pothole.
Breeze
To move quickly, smoothly, or easily
Breezing along on the freeway.
Blow
To spout moist air from the blowhole. Used of a whale.
Breeze
To progress swiftly or easily
We breezed through the test.
Blow
To fail or break down, as from being operated under extreme or improper conditions
The furnace blew during the cold snap.
Breeze
A light, gentle wind.
The breeze rustled the papers on her desk.
Blow
To melt or otherwise become disabled. Used of a fuse.
Breeze
(figurative) Any activity that is easy, not testing or difficult.
After studying Latin, Spanish was a breeze.
Blow
(Informal) To move very fast in relation to something
The boy blew past the stands on his bike.
Breeze
(cricket) Wind blowing across a cricket match, whatever its strength.
Blow
(Slang) To go away; depart
It's time to blow.
Breeze
An excited or ruffled state of feeling; a flurry of excitement; a disturbance; a quarrel.
The discovery produced a breeze.
Blow
(Informal) To boast.
Breeze
A brief workout for a racehorse.
Blow
Vulgar Slang To be disgustingly disagreeable or offensive
This movie blows.
Breeze
A gadfly; a horsefly; a strong-bodied dipterous insect of the family Tabanidae.
Blow
To cause to move by means of a current of air
The wind blew the boat out to sea.
Breeze
Ashes and residue of coal or charcoal, usually from a furnace. See Wikipedia article on Clinker.
Blow
To drive a current of air on, in, or through
Blew my hair dry after I shampooed it.
Breeze
To move casually, in a carefree manner.
Blow
To clear out or make free of obstruction by forcing air through
Blew his nose all through allergy season.
Breeze
(weather) To blow gently.
Blow
To shape or form (glass, for example) by forcing air or gas through at the end of a pipe.
Breeze
To take a horse on a light run in order to understand the running characteristics of the horse and to observe it while under motion.
Blow
To expel (air) from the mouth.
Breeze
(of fish) To swim near the surface of the water, causing ripples in the surface.
Blow
To cause air or gas to be expelled suddenly from
We blew a tire when we drove over the rock.
Breeze
(intransitive) To buzz.
Blow
To cause (a wind instrument) to sound.
Breeze
A fly of various species, of the family Tabanidæ, noted for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood; - called also horsefly, and gadfly. They are among the largest of two-winged or dipterous insects. The name is also given to different species of botflies.
Blow
To sound
A bugle blowing taps.
Breeze
A light, gentle wind; a fresh, soft-blowing wind.
Into a gradual calm the breezes sink.
Blow
To cause to be out of breath.
Breeze
An excited or ruffed state of feeling; a flurry of excitement; a disturbance; a quarrel; as, the discovery produced a breeze.
Blow
To allow (a winded horse) to regain its breath.
Breeze
Refuse left in the process of making coke or burning charcoal.
Blow
To demolish by the force of an explosion
An artillery shell blew our headquarters apart.
Breeze
Refuse coal, coal ashes, and cinders, used in the burning of bricks.
Blow
To lay or deposit eggs in. Used of certain insects.
Breeze
To blow gently.
Blow
To cause to fail or break down, as by operating at extreme or improper conditions
Blew the engine on the last lap.
Breeze
A slight wind (usually refreshing);
The breeze was cooled by the lake
As he waited he could feel the air on his neck
Blow
To cause (a fuse) to melt or become disabled.
Breeze
Any undertaking that is easy to do;
Marketing this product will be no picnic
Blow
To spend (money) freely and rashly.
Breeze
Blow gently and lightly;
It breezes most evenings at the shore
Blow
To spend money freely on; treat
Blew me to a sumptuous dinner.
Breeze
To proceed quickly and easily
Blow
(Slang) To spoil or lose through ineptitude
Blew the audition.
Blew a three-goal lead.
Blow
To cause (a covert intelligence operation or operative) to be revealed and thereby jeopardized
A story in the press that blew their cover.
An agent who was blown by the opposition.
Blow
(Slang) To depart (a place) in a great hurry
Let's blow this city no later than noon.
Blow
(Baseball) To throw (a pitch) so fast that a batter cannot swing fast enough to hit it
Blew a fastball by the batter for the strikeout.
Blow
Vulgar Slang To perform fellatio on.
Blow
To bloom or cause to bloom.
Blow
The act or an instance of blowing.
Blow
A blast of air or wind.
Blow
A storm.
Blow
(Informal) An act of bragging.
Blow
(Slang) Cocaine.
Blow
A sudden hard stroke or hit, as with the fist or an object.
Blow
An unexpected shock or calamity.
Blow
An unexpected attack; an assault.
Blow
A mass of blossoms
Peach blow.
Blow
The state of blossoming
Tulips in full blow.
Blow
(intransitive) To produce an air current.
Blow
(transitive) To propel by an air current (or, if under water, a water current), usually with the mouth.
Blow the dust off that book and open it up.
Blow
(intransitive) To be propelled by an air current.
The leaves blow through the streets in the fall.
Blow
(figurative) To direct or move, usually of a person to a particular location.
Blow
(transitive) To create or shape by blowing; as in to blow bubbles, to blow glass.
Blow
(transitive) To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means.
To blow the fire
Blow
(transitive) To clear of contents by forcing air through.
To blow an egg
To blow one's nose
The submarine blew its main ballast tanks.
Blow
(transitive) To cause to make sound by blowing, as a musical instrument.
Blow
(intransitive) To make a sound as the result of being blown.
In the harbor, the ships' horns blew.
Blow
To exhale visibly through the spout the seawater which it has taken in while feeding.
There's nothing more thrilling to the whale watcher than to see a whale surface and blow.
There she blows! (i.e. "I see a whale spouting!")
Blow
(intransitive) To burst or explode; to occur suddenly
Get away from that burning gas tank! It's about to blow!
Blow
To cause to explode, shatter, or be utterly destroyed.
The demolition squad neatly blew the old hotel up.
The aerosol can was blown to bits.
Blow
To blow from a gun.
Blow
(transitive) To cause the sudden destruction of.
He blew the tires and the engine.
Blow
(intransitive) To suddenly fail destructively.
He tried to sprint, but his ligaments blew and he was barely able to walk to the finish line.
Blow
To recklessly squander.
I managed to blow $1000 at blackjack in under an hour.
I blew $35 thou on a car.
We blew an opportunity to get benign corporate sponsorship.
Blow
To fail at something; to mess up; to make a mistake.
I blew it and forgot to start the spaghetti, so I had plenty of sauce and no pasta.
Good luck, and don't blow it!
Blow
To be very undesirable.
This blows!
Blow
To fellate; to perform oral sex on (usually a man).
Who did you have to blow to get those backstage passes?
Blow
To leave, especially suddenly or in a hurry.
Let's blow this joint.
Blow
(transitive) To make flyblown, to defile, especially with fly eggs.
Blow
(intransitive) (of a fly) To lay eggs; to breed.
Blow
(obsolete) To spread by report; to publish; to disclose.
Blow
(obsolete) To inflate, as with pride; to puff up.
Blow
(intransitive) To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.
Blow
(transitive) To put out of breath; to cause to blow from fatigue.
Blow
(dated) To talk loudly; boast; brag.
Blow
To expose, or inform on.
Blow
To sing.
That girl has a wonderful voice; just listen to her blow!
Blow
To leave the Church of Scientology in an unauthorized manner.
Blow
To flatulate or defecate.
Uh, oh! I gotta blow!
Blow
To blossom; to cause to bloom or blossom.
Blow
A strong wind.
We're having a bit of a blow this afternoon.
Blow
(informal) A chance to catch one's breath.
The players were able to get a blow during the last timeout.
Blow
Cocaine.
Blow
Cannabis.
Blow
Heroin.
Blow
A blowjob; fellatio.
His girlfriend gave him a blow.
Blow
(nautical) An instance of using high-pressure air to empty water from the ballast tanks of a submarine, increasing the submarine's buoyancy and causing it to surface.
Blow
The act of striking or hitting.
A fabricator is used to direct a sharp blow to the surface of the stone.
During an exchange to end round 13, Duran landed a blow to the midsection.
Blow
A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.
Blow
A damaging occurrence.
A further blow to the group came in 1917 when Thomson died while canoeing in Algonquin Park.
Blow
A cut made to a sheep's fleece by a shearer using hand-shears.
Blow
An outcrop of quartz from surrounding rock, thought to indicate mineral deposits below.
Blow
(television) button
Blow
A mass or display of flowers; a yield.
Blow
A display of anything brilliant or bright.
Blow
A bloom, state of flowering.
Roses in full blow.
Blow
(intransitive) Used to express displeasure or frustration.
Blow
Blue.
Blow
To flower; to blossom; to bloom.
How blows the citron grove.
Blow
To cause to blossom; to put forth (blossoms or flowers).
The odorous banks, that blowFlowers of more mingled hue.
Blow
To produce a current of air; to move, as air, esp. to move rapidly or with power; as, the wind blows.
Hark how it rains and blows !
Blow
To send forth a forcible current of air, as from the mouth or from a pair of bellows.
Blow
To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.
Here is Mistress Page at the door, sweating and blowing.
Blow
To sound on being blown into, as a trumpet.
There let the pealing organ blow.
Blow
To spout water, etc., from the blowholes, as a whale.
Blow
To be carried or moved by the wind; as, the dust blows in from the street.
The grass blows from their graves to thy own.
Blow
To talk loudly; to boast; to storm.
You blow behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face.
Blow
To stop functioning due to a failure in an electrical circuit, especially on which breaks the circuit; sometimes used with out; - used of light bulbs, electronic components, fuses; as, the dome light in the car blew out.
Blow
To deflate by sudden loss of air; usually used with out; - of inflatable tires.
Blow
To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means; as, to blow the fire.
Blow
To drive by a current air; to impel; as, the tempest blew the ship ashore.
Off at sea northeast winds blowSabean odors from the spicy shore.
Blow
To cause air to pass through by the action of the mouth, or otherwise; to cause to sound, as a wind instrument; as, to blow a trumpet; to blow an organ; to blow a horn.
Hath she no husbandThat will take pains to blow a horn before her?
Boy, blow the pipe until the bubble rise,Then cast it off to float upon the skies.
Blow
To clear of contents by forcing air through; as, to blow an egg; to blow one's nose.
Blow
To burst, shatter, or destroy by an explosion; - usually with up, down, open, or similar adverb; as, to blow up a building.
Blow
To spread by report; to publish; to disclose; to reveal, intentionally or inadvertently; as, to blow an agent's cover.
Through the court his courtesy was blown.
His language does his knowledge blow.
Blow
To form by inflation; to swell by injecting air; as, to blow bubbles; to blow glass.
Blow
To inflate, as with pride; to puff up.
Look how imagination blows him.
Blow
To put out of breath; to cause to blow from fatigue; as, to blow a horse.
Blow
To deposit eggs or larvæ upon, or in (meat, etc.).
To sufferThe flesh fly blow my mouth.
Blow
To perform an act of fellatio on; to stimulate another's penis with one's mouth; - usually considered vulgar.
Blow
To smoke (e. g. marijuana); to blow pot.
Blow
To botch; to bungle; as, he blew his chance at a good job by showing up late for the interview.
Blow
To leave; to depart from; as, to blow town.
Blow
To squander; as, he blew his inheritance gambling.
I have blown him up well - nobody can say I wink at what he does.
How far the very custom of hearing anything spouted withers and blows upon a fine passage, may be seen in those speeches from [Shakespeare's] Henry V. which are current in the mouths of schoolboys.
A lady's maid whose character had been blown upon.
Blow
A blossom; a flower; also, a state of blossoming; a mass of blossoms.
Blow
A forcible stroke with the hand, fist, or some instrument, as a rod, a club, an ax, or a sword.
Well struck ! there was blow for blow.
Blow
A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.
A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp].
Blow
The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when sudden); a buffet.
A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows.
Blow
A blowing, esp., a violent blowing of the wind; a gale; as, a heavy blow came on, and the ship put back to port.
Blow
The act of forcing air from the mouth, or through or from some instrument; as, to give a hard blow on a whistle or horn; to give the fire a blow with the bellows.
Blow
The spouting of a whale.
Blow
A single heat or operation of the Bessemer converter.
Blow
An egg, or a larva, deposited by a fly on or in flesh, or the act of depositing it.
Blow
A powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon;
A blow on the head
Blow
An impact (as from a collision);
The bump threw him off the bicycle
Blow
An unfortunate happening that hinders of impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
Blow
An unpleasant or disappointing surprise;
It came as a shock to learn that he was injured
Blow
A strong current of air;
The tree was bent almost double by the gust
Blow
Street names for cocaine
Blow
Forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth;
He gave his nose a loud blow
He blew out all the candles with a single puff
Blow
Exhale hard;
Blow on the soup to cool it down
Blow
Be blowing or storming;
The wind blew from the West
Blow
Free of obstruction by blowing air through;
Blow one's nose
Blow
Be in motion due to some air or water current;
The leaves were blowing in the wind
The boat drifted on the lake
The sailboat was adrift on the open sea
The shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore
Blow
Make a sound as if blown;
The whistle blew
Blow
Shape by blowing;
Blow a glass vase
Blow
Make a mess of, destroy or ruin;
I botched the dinner and we had to eat out
The pianist screwed up the difficult passage in the second movement
Blow
Spend thoughtlessly; throw away;
He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends
You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree
Blow
Spend lavishly or wastefully on;
He blew a lot of money on his new home theater
Blow
Sound by having air expelled through a tube;
The trumpets blew
Blow
Play or sound a wind instrument;
She blew the horn
Blow
Provide sexual gratification through oral stimulation
Blow
Cause air to go in, on, or through;
Blow my hair dry
Blow
Cause to move by means of an air current;
The wind blew the leaves around in the yard
Blow
Spout moist air from the blowhole;
The whales blew
Blow
Leave; informal or rude;
Shove off!
The children shoved along
Blow now!
Blow
Lay eggs;
Certain insects are said to blow
Blow
Cause to be revealed and jeopardized;
The story blew their cover
The double agent was blown by the other side
Blow
Show off
Blow
Allow to regain its breath;
Blow a horse
Blow
Melt, break, or become otherwise unusable;
The lightbulbs blew out
The fuse blew
Blow
Burst suddenly;
The tire blew
We blew a tire
Blow
A sudden, forceful strike.
“He received a blow to the head.”
Blow
To create an effect by expelling breath.
“She can blow beautiful tunes on her flute.”
FAQs
Can blow imply a setback?
Yes, blow can metaphorically imply a sudden or severe setback.
Can blow be used as a verb?
Yes, blow can be used as a verb, such as in “blow the whistle.”
Is breeze a noun or a verb?
Breeze is primarily a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
Can breeze refer to moving quickly?
Yes, to breeze can also mean to move or progress swiftly.
Can blow be used to represent the act of playing a wind instrument?
Yes, blow can represent the act of playing wind instruments, e.g., “blow the trumpet.”
Is breeze always a positive term?
Breeze typically has a positive connotation but context matters for its interpretation.
Is blow always related to the wind?
No, blow can refer to expelling air, a physical hit, or a sudden unfortunate event.
Can the term breeze imply swiftness?
Yes, breeze can imply moving swiftly and effortlessly.
Does breeze have varied meanings like blow?
Breeze primarily means a gentle wind, but it can metaphorically imply ease or swiftness.
Can blow mean a strong wind?
Yes, blow can refer to a strong gust of wind.
Is a breeze stronger than a blow?
No, a breeze is typically lighter and gentler than a blow.
Can breeze mean something easy?
Yes, breeze can be used metaphorically to imply something easy or effortless.
Does blow always have a negative connotation?
No, blow can have neutral, negative, or positive connotations depending on the context.
Can the term blow be used in phrases?
Yes, blow is often used in phrases like “blow off steam” or “blow one’s top.”
Can blow and breeze be used interchangeably?
Generally, no, as blow often implies stronger, forceful air, while breeze indicates a gentle wind.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
