blur

American  

[blur] / blɜr /

verb (used with object)

blurs, present (3rd person singular) blurred, past participle, past blurring present participle

1. to obscure or sully (something) by smearing or with a smeary substance.

   The windows were blurred with soot.

2. to obscure by making confused in form or outline; make indistinct.

   The fog blurred the outline of the car.

   Synonyms:

   mask, veil, darken, dim, cloud

3. to dim the perception or susceptibility of; make dull or insensible.

   The blow on the head blurred his senses.

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verb (used without object)

blurs, present (3rd person singular) blurred, past participle, past blurring present participle

1. to become indistinct.

   Everything blurred as she ran.

2. to make blurs.

noun

1. a smudge or smear that obscures.

   a blur of smoke.

2. a blurred condition; indistinctness.

   They could see nothing in the foggy blur.

3. something seen indistinctly.

   The ship appeared as a blur against the horizon.

blur British  

/ ˈblɜːd-, ˈblɜːrɪdlɪ, blɜː /

verb

1. to make or become vague or less distinct

   heat haze blurs the hills

   education blurs class distinctions

2. to smear or smudge

3. (tr) to make (the judgment, memory, or perception) less clear; dim

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noun

1. something vague, hazy, or indistinct

2. a smear or smudge

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unblurred
  adjective
• blurriness
  noun
• blurry
  adjective
• blurredly
  adverb
• blurringly
  adverb
• blurred
  adjective
• blurredness
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have blurred
  perfect
• has blurred
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been blurring
  perfect progressive
• is blurring
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am blurring
  progressive 1st person singular
• are blurring
  progressive
• has been blurring
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• blurs
  singular 3rd person
• blurring
  participle

Past

• had blurred
  perfect
• had been blurring
  perfect progressive
• were blurring
  progressive plural
• was blurring
  progressive singular
• blurred
  simple
• blurred
  participle

Future

• will blur
  simple
• will have blurred
  perfect
• will be blurring
  progressive
• will have been blurring
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of blur

First recorded in 1540–50; akin to blear

Explanation

To blur is to make or become unfocused and fuzzy. Crying hard can cause your vision to blur until you wipe your tears away. Heavy smog or early morning fog can blur your view of the city, and two candidates' similar views can blur the differences between their political parties. In both cases, things become indistinct and hazy. You can also call the haze itself a blur: "The whole day was just a blur after the exciting news I got in the morning." In the 16th century, blur meant "smear on the surface of writing."

Example Sentences

His social media feeds increasingly blur the line between governance, architecture and fortress fantasy: giant protective systems, controlled ceremonial spaces, triumphant crowds and heavily curated images of power.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

From then on, the realms of the living and the passed-on blur together.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Earlier, the second semi-final kicked off with Bulgarian singer Dara, who burst onto the stage in a riotous blur of chair choreography and ferocious hair tossing.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Excursions that attract people like those aboard the MV Hondius, however, blur the second line.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

I try to enjoy the ride the way Madge does, the clacking and whooshing, the blur of trees, bricks, and fences.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Related Words

• darken
• dim
• muddy
• obscure
• soften