blank

adjective

Save Word

\ ˈblaŋk

Definition of blank

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 archaic : colorless

2a : appearing or causing to appear dazed, confounded, or nonplussed stared in blank dismay

b : expressionless a blank stare

3a : devoid of covering or content a blank space : such as

(1) : free from writing or marks a blank sheet of paper

(2) : without any recorded sound or information a blank drive/DVD/disk

b : having spaces to be filled in a blank application form — see also blank check

c : lacking interest, variety, or change blank hours

4 : absolute, unqualified a blank refusal

5 : unfinished especially : having a plain or unbroken surface where an opening is usual a blank key a blank arch

blank

noun

Definition of blank (Entry 2 of 3)

1 obsolete : the bull's-eye of a target

2a : an empty space (as on a paper)

b : a paper with spaces for the entry of data an order blank

3a : a piece of material prepared to be made into something (such as a key) by a further operation

b : a cartridge loaded with propellant and a seal but no projectile

4a : an empty or featureless place or space my mind was a blank

b : a vacant or uneventful period a long blank in history

5 : a dash substituting for an omitted word

blank

verb

blanked; blanking; blanks

Definition of blank (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : obscure, obliterate blank out a line

b : to stop access to : seal blank off a tunnel

2 : to keep (an opponent) from scoring were blanked for eight innings

3 British slang : to treat (a friend or acquaintance) in a hostile or unfriendly way : to ignore or refuse to talk to (someone) And unpopular Gardiner has found himself isolated after the show's cast and crew blanked him.— Mark Jefferies

intransitive verb

1 : fade —usually used with outthe music blanked out

2 : to become confused or abstracted —often used with outhis mind blanked out momentarily

Other Words from blank Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about blank

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Choose the Right Synonym for blank

Adjective

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present. empty suggests a complete absence of contents. an empty bucket vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants. a vacant apartment blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface. a blank wall void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine. a statement void of meaning vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance. a vacuous facial expression

Examples of blank in a Sentence

Adjective a blank sheet of paper a book with blank pages Noun The form has a blank for your signature. The actors are shooting blanks. Verb The goalie blanked the Falcons for two periods in the hockey game.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In the last blank space, Juni wrote stop eating sugar and circled it. — Popular Science, "Reverse your bad habits with just a handful of tiny changes," 31 Dec. 2019 Filling out the artist of the year category are Drake, Grande, Halsey, Malone and Taylor Swift — who will need to clear a blank space for a new statuette, as it was previously announced she will be honored with the artist of the decade title. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, "Everything to Know About the 2019 American Music Awards," 24 Nov. 2019 Her ponytail takes on a life of its own, twisting and curling around the cover's blank space to spell out her name. — Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, "Everyone Loves Missy Elliott's Hair on the 'Iconology' Album Cover," 23 Aug. 2019 For one thing, there are still some blank spaces on the walls at Heroes west. — al, "Renovated Heroes ready for game day (and more) at USA," 23 Aug. 2019 Stevens' birthdate — April 20, 1920 — was chiseled on the stone, a blank space left for the date of his death. — Jessica Gresko, USA TODAY, "John Paul Stevens will be buried among several other Supreme Court justices in Arlington National Cemetery," 17 July 2019 How does an artist transform a blank canvas or a lump of clay? — Danielle Avram, Dallas News, "A creation myth on canvas: Paul Winker’s paintings mix the divine and the minimal," 21 Jan. 2020 Think of what rests in front of you as a blank canvas. — Nick Kindelsperger, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Phodega serves Chicago’s best bowl of pho south of Argyle Street," 11 Dec. 2019 On the flip side of the equation, though, are characters such as young production assistant Sarah Finley (Jacqueline Toboni) who are just starting their adult lives and careers and therefore are a bit more of a blank canvas -- but on a budget. — NBC News, "'The L Word: Generation Q' shows 'lesbians can also be fashion-forward'," 9 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ali Patberg, who had 11 points and six rebounds, missed a 3 that would have given Indiana an 11-point lead, and the Hoosiers had several other point-blank misses to get the lead into double figures. — Jeremy Price, Indianapolis Star, "Grace Berger's torrid run leads IU women's basketball to victory," 28 Jan. 2020 Shane Meek: That some guy just happened to be standing in the shadows of the trees to step out and shoot this guy point-blank in the head with a gun just didn't make sense. — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, "Chacey Poynter, convicted in husband's murder says, "He wasn't supposed to die"," 18 Jan. 2020 This has been refuted point-blank by the chief of the fire service in New South Wales, but the misinformation campaign continues in both mainstream and social media. — Time, "Australia’s Bushfires Show the Wicked, Self-Destructive Idiocy of Climate Denialism Must Stop," 17 Jan. 2020 The Patriots are facing their toughest road to the Super Bowl during their nearly two-decade dynasty, point blank, to borrow a phrase that former Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork was fond of using. — BostonGlobe.com, "Patriots face a tough road ahead to keep the dynasty rolling - The Boston Globe," 31 Dec. 2019 After locating them, the pilot of the Songar sends it in to open fire on the enemy, firing bursts of 5.56-millimeter automatic weapons fire point-blank into their location. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Turkey’s New Drone Comes With a Machine Gun," 13 Dec. 2019 Then there is Wanjiku Gatheru, the daughter of two Kenyan immigrants, who became the first person – point-blank, period – to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Connecticut. — Breanna Edwards, Essence, "#BlackGirlMagic Shows Up And Shows Out In The American Rhodes Scholar Class of 2020," 26 Nov. 2019 After Pesce’s goal just 1:14 into the game, McElhinney settled in and had a couple of point-blanks stops on Haula and Brock McGinn to limit the Hurricanes to one goal in the first 20 minutes. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Hurricanes rally to beat Lightning in overtime," 6 Oct. 2019 On Tuesday, a police officer shot an 18-year-old point-blank in Hong Kong during protests against China’s National Day. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Grounds for an obstruction charge?," 2 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb This past Thursday night at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., Louisiana Tech blanked the Hurricanes 14-0, handing Miami its second consecutive bowl game in which the Hurricanes failed to score a touchdown. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "In last 2 bowl games, Baxa is lone supplier of points for the University of Miami," 28 Dec. 2019 Ryu blanked the New York Mets for seven innings Sept. 14 in a game caught by Martin. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: Hyun-Jin Ryu’s first home run triggers grins and his strong outing elicits smiles," 22 Sep. 2019 The prior worst stretch this season was an 0-for-9 blanking over three games in early December. — Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, "Is Brad Marchand worried about his scoring struggles?," 22 Jan. 2020 The Falcons posted a clean sheet for the tournament, blanking Clear Springs 3-0 and Cypress Woods 2-0. — Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, "Katy, Mayde Creek, Tompkins win brackets at I-10 Shootout girls soccer tournament," 14 Jan. 2020 Kaitland Clawson scored her first goal of the season and McDaniel’s women’s soccer team blanked visiting William Paterson 3-0 on Saturday in the ECAC tournament semifinals. — Carroll County Times Staff, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Local Roundup (Nov. 23): McDaniel women’s soccer moves into ECAC finals," 23 Nov. 2019 Those opportunities were few; the Cougars finished with 10 shots against a Crimson team that had blanked its previous four opponents and six of seven. — Mike Cook, Twin Cities, "State girls soccer: Maple Grove tops Centennial for 2A title," 31 Oct. 2019 Maranatha has one last nonleague game against a team that blanked the Eagles 37-0 last year. — Pomerado News, "Bye week gives Nighthawks chance to regroup," 25 Sep. 2019 In other shutouts Kissimmee Osceola blanked Harmony 45-0, Oviedo won 21-0 against Winter Springs, Orangewood Christian won 36-0 against Cocoa Beach, South Lake edged Weeki Wachi 7-0, Mount Dora Christian routed Lake Highland Prep 40-0. — orlandosentinel.com, "Lake Brantley, East River, pour on points | Football Roundup," 23 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.