blur

noun \ ˈblər \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: blur in a Sentence

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

Michael Curtiz's direction is supple and intelligent, but what makes the movie is James Cagney's manic blur of a performance.

— patrick friel, Chicago Reader, "Crime / Dance / Film / On Video / Small Screen James Cagney is more than just a tough-guy as FilmStruck's Star of the Week," 3 July 2018
In one blur of unstoppable excellence, Capela swatted away a Derrick Rose shot at the rim on one end and then beat the Wolves down the floor to finish with a powerful, rim-swinging slam off a Harden lob on the other.

— jonathan feigen, Houston Chronicle, "James Harden dominates as Rockets hold off Timberwolves to win Game 1," 15 Apr. 2018
The dry-erase board down front had dissolved into a blur of colors and squiggles.

— childs walker, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams seeing more clearly after surgery to combat eye condition," 14 Mar. 2018
The cadence of time and the blur of societal changes have taken a toll on our sense of meaning and purpose.

— loren a. yadon, idahostatesman, "In these trying times, return to Jesus and the simplicity of faith for renewal," 12 July 2018
The blurs of bobbing pink necks are distinctly woodpecker-like in their chaotic, slurp-tastic quest for krill.

— sarah bahr, Indianapolis Star, "Ultimate Indiana bucket list: 50+ things to do in Indianapolis and around the state," 11 July 2018
American Apparel famously put merkins on its mannequins in 2014; Gaby Hoffmann’s character on Girls later displayed an unaltered bush, as did Ilana Glazer on Broad City (albeit behind a digital blur).

— eviana hartman, Vogue, "The Full Bush Is the New Brazilian! Reasons to Give Up Waxing for Good," 9 July 2018
That moment is the kind of emotional blur that sticks with you forever.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "Breakaway: Inside the Life of Future Lottery Pick Mikal Bridges," 15 June 2018
Rikki saw a blur of body and shadow barreling over her.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award runner-up: "Am I Not Your Animal" by Matt Jones," 2 June 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.