Phrase guide

go with the flow

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To act as others are acting, conforming to common behavior patterns with an attitude of calm acceptance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blow with the wind, float with the stream

Antonyms: go against the flow

History

Etymology

Here, flow is used in the sense of "direction of movement."

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 隨波逐流 /随波逐流 (suíbōzhúliú) — to act as others are acting
  • Finnish: mennä virran mukana — to act as others are acting
  • French: faire comme tout le monde — to act as others are acting
  • German: mit dem Strom schwimmen — to act as others are acting
  • Greek: να πηγαίνεις με τα νερά τους (na pigaíneis me ta nerá tous) — to act as others are acting
  • Polish: iść z nurtem — to act as others are acting
  • Portuguese: deixar-se ir na onda — to act as others are acting
  • Russian: плыть по тече́нию (plytʹ po tečéniju) — to act as others are acting
  • Serbo-Croatian: okrenuti se kako vjetar puše — to act as others are acting
  • Spanish: ir / andar con la corriente — to act as others are acting
  • Spanish: contemporizar — to act as others are acting
  • Swedish: följa med strömmen — to act as others are acting
  • Walloon: hoûler avou les leus et bawer avou les tchéns — to act as others are acting