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
  • The stage for Sheeran’s tour has a glittering circular screen set into its center, twinkling like a ring light.
    — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026
  • And this image has no shortage of suns, with twinkling stars speckling the entire cosmic landscape, diffraction spikes and all.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 16 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
  • The inherent challenge in making films dealing with progressive illness is not succumbing to an inescapably formulaic structure that can’t help but go with the territory.
    — Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The stone never does talk to Larry, and Dillard ends that story by succumbing to her faith in the nothingness.
    — Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • His life trajectory changed when one client, a woman in her 50s, tired of staring at the stark white demarcation line every three weeks, begged him to take her gray.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In the first, Cameron and David are staring at each other in front of a net of twinkling lights.
    — Michael Nied, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Yet three successive Democratic presidential campaigns willfully ignored these flashing sirens, instead insisting that Green New Deals and diversity, equity and inclusion programs would appeal to working-class Latino men.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In others, there are clear personnel issues that are flashing warning signs about what the future may hold.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 24 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
  • On the flip side, some users note slower withdrawal processing times during peak sports seasons and occasional app lag when submitting last-minute picks before games kickoff.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • One particularly big shift came around 2000, when about 280 colleges and universities allowed applicants to apply without submitting scores for the SAT or the ACT, another common standardized test.
    — Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The clip began with a makeup-free Giudice sitting in the glam chair and gazing straight-faced into the camera while Reyna sized up the shot.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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