blinking

present participle of blink
1
as in twinkling
to shine with light at regular intervals she loves to sit in the dark and watch the lights on the Christmas tree blink in ever-changing patterns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in squinting
to rapidly open and close one's eyes I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

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 blinking Songs were deconstructed and reconstructed each night as the pair hunched over their blinking arrays. Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2026 The car’s hazard-warning lights were blinking the whole time. Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 Soon, dozens of virtual attackers were blinking in and out of existence. Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 Nearby, several crocodiles sat without blinking in individual cages filled with greenish water. ABC News, 29 July 2026 Nothing beats the thrill of chasing the blinking bugs in grandma’s backyard in the dark, zooming around with Mason jars in hand. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 July 2026 But while Momsen was opening a concert, AC/DC was presiding over something that felt like a reunion, judging by the sea of black T-shirts, blinking red devil horns and giant cups of beer. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026 Everyone—blue-collar moms, college students, CEOs—suffers from the distractions of carrying around the pinging, blinking pocket-size casinos that our phones have become. Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 There’s a hundred blinking eyes, proving cities are for lonely deer in headlights. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
Verb
  • That night, rather than looking at the twinkling wind instruments on the stage, he was captivated by the view of the father and daughter in front of him.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The man from Bethlehem Lights is here to present his pre-lit trees, stately faux spruces twinkling with proprietary Color Prism illumination technology, 81 color and light combinations, the best time to purchase is now.
    Hannah Engler Harvey, Longreads, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • To help prevent wrinkles from forming around your eyes naturally, Zeichner recommends wearing sunglasses in the sun, as well as regular glasses to prevent squinting.
    Daley Quinn, Glamour, 9 July 2026
  • No more squinting at raw tape and praying for a basketball IQ transplant.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • So far there’s no sign of that, and time is running out, although to its credit the EU, with its Industrial Accelerator Act, wants urgent action to save local automakers from succumbing to ballooning Chinese sales.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • His father was by his side for the rise, but his father never saw this fight happen, succumbing to his failing lungs.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • On top of that, many schools have kids spending lots of time on screens, even though staring at them for long periods can be stressful and exhausting.
    Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Residents will encounter him perched on the air conditioner just outside their apartment, staring in.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Alas, an adductor injury Monday has put Black out of action, along with James and Isaac Guerendo, the latter of whom is flashing on the side and nearing a return from his pectoral tear.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But just barely, and the warning signs on the horizon are flashing red.
    S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Election officials say July 30 was the highest turnout day so far for early in-person voting, with 15,965 voters submitting ballots.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • According to a source at HBO, there wasn’t much consideration given to submitting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a comedy.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The first image shows the mother-of-two enjoying a moment of calm outside, wearing a pair of pale jeans and a blue striped shirt, gazing thoughtfully into the distance.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There, Kikuko lies on a luxurious bed and dies while gazing out to sea.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Muluk Spa is relatively compact with serene treatment rooms illuminated by flickering candle-like lights.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Their disparate sonic elements form a dissonant but cohesive whole, wisps of trumpet and electronic woodwinds flashing by as quickly as flickering subway car lights.
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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