stream

word

/ˈstɹim/
streem
/stɹˈiːm/
streem

Definition

A stream is a small, narrow river. It can also mean a continuous flow of something, or to play or broadcast audio and video directly over the internet without downloading the whole file first.

Usage & Nuances

Very common in tech: 'stream music', 'stream a movie', 'live stream'. As a noun, 'a stream of traffic/questions' means a steady flow. For water, 'stream' is smaller than 'river'. In everyday speech, people often say 'watch it online' instead of 'stream it' in casual contexts.

Example Sentences

We walked by a stream in the forest.

basic

I stream music on my phone every day.

basic

A stream of cars passed our house.

basic

Is this movie available to stream yet?

natural

She gets a constant stream of messages after posting a video.

natural

We’re going to live stream the event for people who can’t come.

natural