block 1 of 3

1
2
3
as in head
slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth threatened to knock the block off the jerk next door if he didn't can the noise

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4
as in side
a group of people acting together within a larger group a more conservative block within the political party

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5

block

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain block up the opening in the wall where a window once was

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2
3
as in to intercept
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course a thug suddenly stepped out of a doorway and blocked his escape down the alley

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block (off)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to guard
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point the square is temporarily blocked off for the street fair

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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 block
Noun
Officers responded to the reported stabbing in the 2700 block of Rio Linda Boulevard just before 1 a.m., Sacramento Police Department spokesman Officer Anthony Gamble said. Michael McGough 5, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025 Officers responded just after 5 a.m. to the 100 block of North Bellaire Avenue on a reported shooting. Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
Verb
At the agency, Trainor has muscled support to block Democrats from weaponizing the FEC against Trump and Republicans. Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2025 Hormone therapy can block the production of testosterone to slow a cancer’s growth. Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for block
Noun
  • The team’s genetic analysis focused on the Hox cluster: a family of genes found widely across the animal kingdom that fundamentally control an organism’s physical development.
    Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
  • Just as with Windows antivirus tools, there are two main pricing clusters for a single-year Mac antivirus subscription, one around $40 and one around $50.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • These shifts signal a recognition that regulation is not an obstacle to progress but a critical enabler of responsible, adaptive innovation - especially when physically embedded in place.
    Kath Mackay, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Despite the obstacles, authorities from at least seven neighboring counties have followed countless tips in their hunt for Decker, with some leads running hot.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Now, Maineri heads into year 12 with 18 pitchers on his roster, hoping that rising junior Caleb Gilbert and sophomore-to-be Zach Hess will emerge at the top of the pitching rotation.
    John Roach, NOLA.com, 19 July 2017
  • Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.
    J. Harry Jones, Ramona Sentinel, 19 July 2017
Noun
  • Flip tortillas; scatter 2 tablespoons of the cheese over one half of toasted side.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • There's a dual front light plus an integrated rear light, and a side kickstand and full fenders.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Americans are divided on that topic, with 55% saying historical figures that supported the confederacy and racial segregation should not be memorialized in a June 2024 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Men were the representatives of their clans and nations in the Haudenosaunee council, which made decisions for the confederacy as a whole.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • These pipelines must evolve beyond rigid batch jobs toward flexible, scalable flows that support high-volume and low-latency requirements.
    Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • In another batch of letters shared later in the afternoon, Trump said tariffs would be set at 25% for Tunisia, 30% for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32% for Indonesia, 35% for Bangladesh and Serbia, and 36% for Cambodia and Thailand.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • One of the biggest hurdles was the architecture of the building.
    Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
  • Frequently the Swedes have been impressive in the early stages of tournaments only to fall at the final hurdle.
    Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Parts of the fetal skull had adhered to her intestines and were taken out, the lawsuit said.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
  • In 2024, a woman was severely injured in West Hollywood when she was hit by a motorized scooter, suffering a fractured skull and brain swelling that required hospitalization.
    Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/block. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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