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
  • In November 2008, after surviving two months longer than it was designed to, the Phoenix Mars Lander fell silent, succumbing to the harsh Martian winter.
    Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Very few things in movies and television shows delight me as much as a mysterious character revealing his or her fascinating backstory through an extended monologue that is delivered while staring off into the unspecified middle distance.
    Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Remember, staring directly at the sun during the partial phases of an eclipse can cause permanent vision loss.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • There are fog machines, rainstorm fans, seat shaker amplifiers, flashing strobe lights and strong scents, according to Regal’s website.
    Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • More recently, the tiny Delica Mini has expanded the Delica's dominion, flashing some adventure and camping chops of its own.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Since 2009, a total of 23 actors in the comedy and drama categories have won by submitting season-finale episodes.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Comey’s lawyers are pressing to have the case dismissed, accusing the department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding key facts.
    Alanna Durkin Richer, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bored staffers spent endless hours gazing at their phones, leading supervisors to restrict phone use.
    Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • More troubling than the crowds is the flickering recognition that being a symbol is not necessarily a good thing.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Muluk Spa is relatively compact with serene treatment rooms illuminated by flickering candle-like lights.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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