blank 1 of 3

Definition of blanknext
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blank

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noun

1
as in form
a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it handed him an employment blank to fill out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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blank

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective blank contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could empty be used to replace blank?

Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of blank?

In some situations, the words vacant and blank are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

Where would vacuous be a reasonable alternative to blank?

The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for blank?

The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

How does the adjective blank contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could empty be used to replace blank?

Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of blank?

In some situations, the words vacant and blank are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

Where would vacuous be a reasonable alternative to blank?

The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for blank?

The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

How does the adjective blank contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could empty be used to replace blank?

Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of blank?

In some situations, the words vacant and blank are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

Where would vacuous be a reasonable alternative to blank?

The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for blank?

The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

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 blank
Adjective
Just a blank day with hours to fill and a television inexplicably still showing an NCAA tournament that has the nerve to continue on. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026 The wall that once featured the face of national civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, greeting those entering East Austin for roughly 46 years, now sits blank. Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
And then Kittle helped fill in the blanks. Noah Furtado, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026 Besides shuffling tiles and deciding whether to play with blanks or not, the trio is hoping the studio becomes a place to unwind, grow stronger friendships and meet some new people along the way. Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
City are among the teams who blank in Gameweek 31, meaning selling Haaland could align well with longer-term planning, but only if his injury is confirmed as serious. Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026 It's become common practice for creatives to blank out their social media presences before announcing a new project, but Bad Bunny is already in the midst of a global tour that extends through July. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • Her home had been a house of mourning, a symbol of resilience, a family cornerstone, and now—bright shock—the empty scene of an unseen crime.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Police searched the house and found a Powerade bottle that was largely empty, but contained some residue at the bottom.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
  • Perhaps no other museum cafe in the city is more beloved than the Neue Galerie's Café Sabarsky, a Viennese cafe that seems to transport guests to Austria, circa 1910, complete with lighting fixtures by Josef Hoffmann, furniture by Adolf Loos, and banquettes upholstered with Otto Wagner fabric.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
  • His metamorphosis into social scientist-cum-sage appears to be complete.
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat in remaining 1¾ cups heavy cream until medium-firm peaks form, about 4 minutes.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Over time, this creates a sense of emptiness, a lack of purpose and significance.
    Arthur C. Brooks March 22, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The tens of thousands of conference attendees who surged into downtown San Jose this week provided a stark contrast to the typical daytime emptiness, and highlighted the otherwise sluggish recovery of the city’s economically vital conference and convention business.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This is a youngster in great form and proving hard to ignore.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Some Democrats argue that the cost of ignoring young male voters is higher than the risk of association with Piker.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Within in an hour of the first departure in Lantana, the helicopter nosedived through the roof of a vacant warehouse near the 3800 block of South Congress Avenue just west of Interstate 95.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • And while the vacant Boise store remains listed for lease at 8249 Franklin Road, the interior of the soon-to-open Meridian shop has gotten a vibrant makeover.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • After letting the final Bosnian penalty slip under his reach on Tuesday, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma remained on his knees, putting his hands on his head in utter disbelief.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The transition from agricultural employment to factory employment involved wrenching mass migration, the utter misery of the Great Depression (as well as other brutal recessions, now faded from collective memory), and the painful dealmaking of the New Deal.
    Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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