Stream — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈstrēm/

Meaning & Definition of Stream

Stream (noun)

  1. a body of running water (such as a river or creek) flowing on the earth; also, any body of flowing fluid (such as water or gas)
  2. a steady succession (as of words or events)
  3. a constantly renewed or steady supply

Stream (verb)

  1. to flow in or as if in a stream
  2. to leave a bright trail
  3. to exude a bodily fluid profusely

Stream (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in river, rivulet

    similar: river, rivulet, aqueduct, canal, channel, conduit, course, flume, racecourse, raceway, watercourse, waterway, millrace, millstream, floodway, sluice, sluiceway, spillway, swash, tideway, torrent, gutter, trough

  2. as in way, flow

    similar: current, drift, flow, flux, way, advance, advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression, advent, approach, arrival, coming, nearing, bound, jump, leap, step, stride, impetus, momentum
    opposite: recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression, backwash, ebb, reflux, retraction, return, reversal, reverse, about-face, turnabout, turnaround

  3. as in ray, beam

    similar: afterglow, aureole, aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, sunbeam, daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine, glisten, gloss, luster, polish, reflection, sheen, flash, glimmer, glint, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle, blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, gleam, glow, illumination, incandescence, light, luminescence, radiance, shine
    opposite: blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow

Stream (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to flow in a stream

    "his eyes were streaming tears"

    similar: pour
    related: ladle, spoon, cascade, trickle, deluge, flood, inundate, overflow

  2. to move in a stream

    "blood streaming out of a wound"

    similar: flow, pour, roll, run
    related: arise, disembogue, effuse, emanate, issue, spring, course, race, rush, fountain, gush, spout, spurt, deluge, engulf, flood, inundate, overflow, overrun, swamp, cascade, dribble, drip, gutter, riffle, ripple, sheet, trickle, flush, wash out
    opposite: back up
    near: clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, harden, set

  3. to move or proceed smoothly and readily

    "cars streaming along the freeway"

    similar: bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, sweep, whisk
    related: fly, race, rush, speed
    opposite: flounder, struggle
    near: limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Stream

The most common words with a similar meaning to Stream:

river, rivulet, aqueduct, canal, channel, conduit, course, flume, racecourse, raceway, watercourse, waterway, millrace, millstream, floodway, sluice, sluiceway, spillway, swash, tideway, torrent, gutter, trough, current, drift, flow, flux, way, advance, advancement, furtherance, going, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Stream

Words with the opposite meaning of Stream:

recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression, backwash, ebb, reflux, retraction, return, reversal, reverse, about-face, turnabout, turnaround, blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow, back up, flounder, struggle

Related Words for Stream

ladle, spoon, cascade, trickle, deluge, flood, inundate, overflow, arise, disembogue, effuse, emanate, issue, spring, race, rush, fountain, gush, spout, spurt, engulf, overrun, swamp, dribble, drip, riffle, ripple, sheet, flush, wash out

Near Antonyms of Stream

clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, harden, set, limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

Word Forms of Stream

Inflections: streamed, streaming, streams

Origin & Etymology of Stream

Middle English streme, from Old English strēam; akin to Old High German stroum stream, Greek rhein to flow

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Stream

Words & Phrases Containing Stream

stream of consciousness, jet stream, live stream, third-stream

Frequently Asked Questions about Stream

What does "Stream" mean?

"Stream" means a body of running water (such as a river or creek) flowing on the earth; also, any body of flowing fluid (such as water or gas). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a body of running water (such as a river or creek) flowing on the earth; also, any body of flowing fluid (such as water or gas). It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Stream"?

Other words for "Stream" include river, rivulet, aqueduct, canal, channel, conduit, course and flume. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Stream" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Stream"?

There are 138 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Stream". Common alternatives include river, rivulet, aqueduct, canal, channel, conduit, course, flume, racecourse and raceway.

What is the opposite of "Stream"?

Antonyms of "Stream" include recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression, backwash and ebb. Near antonyms include clot, coagulate, congeal and gel.

How do you use "Stream" in a sentence?

Examples of "Stream" in a sentence: "his eyes were streaming tears"; "blood streaming out of a wound"; "cars streaming along the freeway".

Is "Stream" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Stream" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Stream" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Stream" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Stream"?

"Stream" is pronounced /ˈstrēm/.