streaming

1 of 2

noun

stream·​ing ˈstrē-miŋ 

1

: the act, the process, or an instance of streaming data (see stream entry 2 sense transitive 3) or of accessing data that is being streamed

… among the hundreds whose presentations are freely available for streaming on the conference website.

—Joanne McNeil

Streaming is preferable for sites that feature live broadcasts (e.g. live speeches and keynote addresses), in which case downloading files is not an option.

—Neo Mai and Ken Neo T. K.

2

: an act or instance of flowing

specifically : cyclosis

3

British : tracking sense 1

streaming

2 of 2

adjective

: relating to or being the transfer of data (such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback

Examples of streaming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The original series, which streams on Peacock, remains popular: Nielsen said in its year-end streaming release that U.S. viewers watched more than 13 billion minutes of Little House on the Prairie in 2024. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025

Despite criticisms around streaming prices and value and streaming evolving into a costly, bundled affair à la cable, many streaming services have already upped prices for 2025. —Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025

Adjective

The projections include global streaming and non-streaming revenue sources, according to Manatt, which created Billboard’s royalty calculator. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 22 Dec. 2024

Another way of putting it: Are the most powerful cinematic images in this streaming age still those from the pre-streaming past? —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1980, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing streaming

• live streaming

Kids Definition

streaming

adjective

stream·​ing

ˈstrē-miŋ

: playing continuously as data is sent to a computer over the Internet

streaming video

Medical Definition

streaming

noun

stream·​ing ˈstrē-miŋ 

: an act or instance of flowing

specifically : cyclosis