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
blurred; blurring
1
: to obscure or blemish by smearing
windows blurred by fingerprints
2
: sully
… an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty.—
Shakespeare
Shakespeare3
: to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character
His vision was blurred.
digitally blur the edges of photographs
blurring the line between fact and fiction
4
: to make cloudy or confused
time had begun to blur her senses—W. A. White
W. A. White1
a
: to make blurs
… the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen …—R. P. Warren
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
Adrian McKinty2
: to become vague or indistinct
distinctions between the two are beginning to blur
Examples of blur in a Sentence
Verb
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Bullets cut the air, sharp and fleeting, as exhaustion and conviction blur into violence.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Deanna Pai, Allure, 23 Oct. 2025
The dramatic 70,000-square-foot exhibition space features tall bay windows that create a sense of transparency, blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside world.
—CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blur
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Noun
Quick fixes before posting Crop or blur backgrounds that show personal details.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Bullets cut the air, sharp and fleeting, as exhaustion and conviction blur into violence.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Like the rest of Hourglass’s base lineup, it’s made with light-reflecting powders that blur the look of pores, fine lines, and texture.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 23 Oct. 2025
The dramatic 70,000-square-foot exhibition space features tall bay windows that create a sense of transparency, blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside world.
—CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blur
Cite this Entry
“Blur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blur. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blur
1 of 2 noun1
: a smear or stain that dims but does not completely cover
2
: something vague or lacking definite outline
blurry
adjective
-ē
blur
2 of 2 verb
blurred; blurring
1
: to make hard to see or read by smearing
2
: to make or become vague or unclear
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