blacking out

Definition of blacking outnext
present participle of black out
1
2
as in darkening
to grow dark with the delivery of the knockout punch, the screen blacks out, and in the next scene the boxer wakes up in the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in fainting
to lose consciousness blacked out after hitting her head on the beam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blacking out Ryan Gosling headlines Miller and Phil Lord’s film adaption of Andy Weir’s 2021 book of the same name, which centers on a school teacher turned astronaut tasked with stopping a mysterious entity from blacking out the sun. Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026 Any new rules and regulations proposed by the FCC that restrict leagues from paywalling, locally blacking out or spreading live sports content across numerous channels and apps could be challenged in court. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2026 In Singapore 2023, Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired from the race due to the extreme conditions, while Lance Stroll collapsed by his car after the race, near blacking out in high-speed corners. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 Just half a year earlier, in March 2024, a landslide in the Trou sans Fond had ruptured all three cables, throttling or even blacking out the internet in Côte d’Ivoire and 12 other countries. Samanth Subramanian, The Dial, 14 Oct. 2025 The last thing Ameilia Boodoosingh Gopie remembers before blacking out on the delivery table is holding her daughter, Allana, for the first time. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025 The other major station group blacking out Kimmel, Nexstar, did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment about its plans. Dan Heching, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 Taxes are rising, the economy is faltering, the power grid is blacking out, energy prices are skyrocketing, violent crime is rampant and unaudited non-profit funding in the billions creates the appearance of mismanagement at the best and corruption at the worst. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025 Female victims were also more likely to report blacking out, with 74% reporting blacking out, compared to 51% of male victims, according to the study. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blacking out
Verb
  • Maybe the Clyborns made their money by developing vaccines and eradicating diseases around the world.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026
  • More imminently, Krugman wrote war costs could collide with fears of artificial intelligence eradicating jobs—or eventually suffering a reversal in fortunes on the market, taking asset prices and business confidence down with it.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Sweep sidewalks regularly to keep dirt and debris from building up and darkening the color.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The lens darkening is a boon, though, as turning on the tint makes the image really pop against the dark background.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After weeks of inactivity on the fainting front, Whoopi Goldberg has officially collapsed on The View once again.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Staff described students being unable to focus, becoming dizzy and even fainting.
    Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Testimonials from satisfied patients boast of improved post-op job opportunities and love lives, the idea being that erasing one’s race is a shortcut to equality — as long as the default complexion is white.
    Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • But the owner—a multidisciplinary creative and visual artist who goes by Dev—had no intention of erasing the beloved structure.
    Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Now, the program is closing in on UIL history.
    Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
  • As the Mideast conflict involving Iran and the United States continues, the average gas price across the state has rushed past $3 a gallon, and is closing in on $4.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Another tweak came in how KC pressed Utah’s passing out of the back line.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Bagpipers, local Irish organizations, Union members, Irish dance groups and high school marching bands from across the country strolled along, passing out beads, candy and other small things.
    Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.
    Jack Fink, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The pipe was being used as a retaining structure to keep the surrounding soil from collapsing during the operation, officials said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The global leader in oilfield services trading as if energy demand were collapsing, despite one of the most volatile oil supply environments in decades.
    Tony Zhang, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blacking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blacking%20out. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

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