Dictionary

ebb and flow en · NOUN

Meanings

1. The flowing out and in of the tide.
2. (figuratively) A large flowing out and in, or any waxing and waning of fortunes or activity.
   • October 29 2001, The New Yorker Online I want to hear the roaring ebb and flow of Broadway.

Forms

Relateds

at a low ebb

Translations (15)

hu árapály (flowing out and in of the tide) · sv ebb och flod (flowing out and in of the tide) · ja 浮き沈み (flowing out and in of the tide) · ka მიქცევ-მოქცევა (flowing out and in of the tide) · fr flux et reflux (flowing out and in of the tide) · nl eb en vloed (flowing out and in of the tide) · hi ज्वारभाटा (flowing out and in of the tide) · pl wzloty i upadki (flowing out and in of the tide) · ka მიმოქცევა (flowing out and in of the tide) · vi lên voi xuống chó (flowing out and in of the tide) · ja 干満 (flowing out and in of the tide) · fa جزر و مد (flowing out and in of the tide) · de Ebbe und Flut (flowing out and in of the tide) · ga tuile agus trá (flowing out and in of the tide) · vi thăng trầm (flowing out and in of the tide)

ebb and flow en · VERB

Meanings

1. (of the tides) To alternately ebb and flow, as: ▸ To recede and advance.
   • As true we are as flesh and blood can be: / The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his face c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
2. (figuratively) To alternately ebb and flow, as: ▸ To wax and wane.
   • The quality of his service game varied as the contest ebbed and flowed, but landing 54% of his first serves over the whole match was a telling statistic. 2025 June 8, Jonathan Jurejko, “Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final”, in BBC:

Forms

Relateds

come and go