blown about

USAGE SUMMARY

"blown about" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something being moved or tossed around by the wind or a similar force. Example: The leaves were blown about by the strong gusts of wind. Alternative expressions include "tossed around" and "carried away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Did your beard get blown about?

The Guardian - Music

I found several pairs of men's sandals that were just blown about like they were nothing.

The New Yorker

Tinselly curled ribbons have blown about, all over the cemetery grass.

The New Yorker

Too soon our fish is just fin and bone and all that's left is to stand blown about in the storm and marvel at the sea.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It has only thirty companies in it, and these are weighted by cost rather than market capitalisation, which means that it is easily blown about by outsized movements in the prices of a few stocks.

The Economist

Concrete blocks from the building were blown about, some of which struck cars in a nearby parking lot.

Wikipedia

Spray from sprinklers is easily blown about by even a gentle breeze and this can seriously reduce uniformity.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

We are blown about.

The Guardian - Arts

His apartment furniture had been blown about by the blast.

The New York Times

The branchful of dried leaves blown about at the center.

The New Yorker

The seed is very small and often blown about.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blown about" to create a vivid image of helplessness or lack of stability, especially in literary or narrative writing. It works effectively for both physical debris and people feeling overwhelmed by life events.

Common error

Do not use "blown about" when you mean something has been completely removed from a location or destroyed. Use "blown away" for total removal or extreme distance, while "blown about" should be reserved for items remaining in an area but moving chaotically within it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blown about" functions as the passive voice or past participle form of the phrasal verb "blow about". It is frequently used to describe a state where a subject is acted upon by an external force, typically wind or a metaphorical equivalent. According to Ludwig AI, it serves as a descriptive predicate that emphasizes the lack of agency of the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "blown about" is a versatile and sophisticated phrase used to denote movement or influence by external forces. Ludwig AI highlights its effectiveness in both scientific descriptions—such as spores being dispersed—and literary metaphors describing humans as leaves in a storm. With over 60 high-quality examples from elite sources like The New York Times and The Economist, the phrase is confirmed as a standard part of professional English. Whether you are describing a physical storm or a figurative one, "blown about" remains an evocative choice for any writer seeking to convey displacement or lack of control.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tossed around

Implies a more violent or erratic physical movement

scattered by the wind

Emphasizes the dispersal of multiple objects in different directions

buffeted by

Suggests being struck repeatedly by a strong force

carried away

Focuses on the transport from one location to another rather than chaotic movement

swept along

Indicates a more continuous and powerful forward motion

flung about

Conveys a sense of extreme force and sudden displacement

pushed around

Often used metaphorically for being bullied or controlled by others

whirled around

Specifically denotes circular or spinning movement

shaken up

Focuses on the internal disturbance caused by an external force

drifted away

Suggests a gentler, slower movement than the wind-driven connotations of the query

FAQs

How do I use "blown about" in a sentence?

You can use "blown about" to describe something being moved by the wind, such as "The autumn leaves were "blown about" the garden". It can also be used metaphorically: "He felt his career was being "blown about" by political whims".

What is the difference between "blown about" and "blown away"?

While both involve wind, "blown away" usually means an object is removed entirely or impressed someone deeply, whereas "blown about" refers to movement within a space without a fixed direction.

Is "blown about" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts. In Ludwig, we see it used by "Princeton University" and "Johns Hopkins University" to describe environmental particles or social vulnerability.

Can I say "blown around" instead of "blown about"?

Yes, "blown around" is a common and interchangeable alternative, though "blown about" is often perceived as slightly more formal or literary in British English.