blur

noun \ ˈblər \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of blur

1 : a smear or stain that obscures

2 : something vaguely or indistinctly perceived

The words are just a blur without his glasses.

The whole weekend is a blur to me.

; especially : something moving or occurring too quickly to be clearly seen

passed by in a blur of motion

See blur defined for English-language learners

See blur defined for kids

Recent Examples of blur from the Web

The blur of new speed only accentuates the Bengals’ issues in this series.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals on similar defensive rises," 19 Oct. 2017
Her show Monday night was a non-stop blur of explosive lights, video, huge puppets, dancers, giant basketball goals, confetti and robot Venus flytraps.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Katy Perry goes over the top at KFC Yum Center with manic, colorful, escapist show," 17 Oct. 2017
Here’s the thing that happens, apparently, when a conspiracy theorist becomes president of the United States: The lines between decision and reaction blur.

— adrienne lafrance, The Atlantic, "Conspiracy Theories Are for Underdogs," 22 Oct. 2017
But the cavalcade of characters who have turned up since Rick and the gang got to Alexandria have either died before their time (Alexandra Breckinridge as Jessie, whose connection with Rick was interestingly complicated) or just form one big blur.

— kristi turnquist | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "'The Walking Dead' returns for Season 8: How a good show became a bloody bore," 20 Oct. 2017
Dogim attributed it to a blur of movement spotted by the guards.

— matthew shaer, Smithsonian, "The Holocaust’s Great Escape," 29 Mar. 2017
Coursey's week has been a blur of emergency meetings.

— chris megerian, latimes.com, "Santa Rosa mayor surveys his devastated city: 'The fire did not discriminate'," 13 Oct. 2017
Senior running back Mikah Linnan was a blur in the open field, jetting past defenders for 43-yard touchdown run on Oceanside’s first offensive play of the game.

— oscar terrones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Trip south pays off as Oceanside defeats Mater Dei Catholic," 29 Sep. 2017
Residents of the region said the days since the storm's first landfall had been a long, dreadful blur.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "One week after Harvey, Texas residents are exhausted — and still stranded," 3 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of blur

perhaps akin to Middle English bleren to blear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1519

See Words from the same year

blur

verb

Definition of blur

blurred; blurring

transitive verb

1 : to obscure or blemish by smearing

windows blurred by fingerprints

2 : sully

… an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty.
—Shakespeare

3 : to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character

His vision was blurred.

digitally blur the edges of photographs

bluring the line between fact and fiction

4 : to make cloudy or confused

time had begun to blur her senses
—W. A. White

intransitive verb

1 a : to make blurs

… the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen …
—R. P. Warren

b : move too quickly to be seen clearly

… it's like the … ride of a traveling carnival, with eerie lights and sharp turns on the rails and the odd unsettling image that blurs past you.
—Adrian McKinty

2 : to become vague or indistinct

distinctions between the two are beginning to blur

—

blurringly

play \ˈblər-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See blur defined for English-language learners

Examples of blur in a Sentence

The tears in my eyes blurred the words on the page.
His novel is based on historical occurrences but it blurs the line between fact and fiction.
The two events have blurred together in my mind.