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 Parkinson’s is often marked by tremors, slow or impaired movement, tenseness or rigidity and difficulty balancing, as well as speech changes and loss of automatic motor functions like blinking or smiling, according to Mayo Clinic. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Some people have simple motor tics, such as blinking, shoulder shrugging or facial movements. Michael Okun, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026 The film’s opening scene has her wading naked in Hampstead Ponds at night, looking up at the blinking stars and naming the constellations to herself, then closing her eyes as if to let the galaxies above wash over her. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 Choose a system to add the module to (or create a new one), verify that the LEDs are solid green and blinking blue, and tap Discover Device. John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
Verb
  • Amenities and experiences Aside from dining at La Cour Jardin, the space also serves as a venue for pop-up exhibitions, an outdoor cinema, and a twinkling ice rink in winter.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • His pencil mustache, his fastidious gestures, and his twinkling eyes are at least as famous as his drinks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bathed in the glow of the late-afternoon light, the firefighters look skyward, squinting into the sun.
    Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • But that would require a lot of squinting, and that is terrible for your eyesight.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • He was carried out of the ring on a stretcher; his body finally succumbing to complete exhaustion.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Tickets are priced at tiers that smell extortionate, and are won by either facing off with bots or succumbing to the—actually extortionate—resale market.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • While everyone else is staring at dot plots and hanging on Jensen Huang's every utterance, Illumina (ILMN) has been quietly doing what good charts do.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • But that’s not how the VAR system works, because the Premier League fears that every key decision would end with the ref staring at the pitchside monitor.
    Graham Scott, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And that economic risk could come at a time when warning lights are already flashing.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Linde's electronics end market, 10% of revenue, is already flashing signs of a strong breakout, surging 18% year-over-year and 7% sequentially, as of the second quarter .
    Harvey Stober, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The dress included a long train, which trailed the actress on the arrival carpet, and was further augmented by a shoulder ornament of fabric that transitioned from fluttering waves to delicate tassels.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The films submitting for the category cannot be in English for a majority of the film, nor can they have been produced inside the United States.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Minnesotans can start submitting absentee ballots on Friday to vote in the midterm election.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Lodging options include houseboats along the banks of the Kennebunk River with private rooftop decks for gazing at the autumnal views.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Geese’s lead singer, Cameron Winter, is stretched out at full length on a comfortable chair in another corner of the room, gazing intently at a phone with a single large crack marring its screen.
    Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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