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View synonyms for blank

blank

[ blangk ]

adjective

, blank·er, blank·est.
  1. (of paper or other writing surface) having no marks; not written or printed on:

    a blank sheet of paper.

  2. not filled in, as a printed form:

    a blank check.

  3. unrelieved or unbroken by ornament, opening, decoration, etc.:

    a blank wall.

  4. lacking some usual or completing feature:

    An image is stamped onto a blank coin by a die.

  5. (of a recording medium) containing no previously recorded information: Compare prerecorded ( def 2 ).

    She transferred all the restored data onto a blank hard drive.

    I still have a few blank CD-ROMs.

  6. void of interest, variety, results, etc.:

    She sometimes occupied her blank days reading detective stories.

  7. showing no attention, interest, or emotion:

    a blank expression on his face.

  8. He looked blank when I asked him why he applied for the job.

    Synonyms: perplexed, dumbstruck

  9. blank stupidity.

    Synonyms: unqualified, absolute, perfect, unadulterated, thorough, pure, downright

  10. Archaic. white; pale; colorless.


noun

  1. a place where something is lacking; an empty space:

    a blank in one's memory.

    Synonyms: gap, vacancy, void, hiatus, lacuna

  2. a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in:

    Write your name in the blank.

  3. a printed form containing such spaces:

    Have you filled out one of these blanks?

  4. a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., especially to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.
  5. Metalworking. a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.
  6. Archery. the bull's-eye.
  7. the object toward which anything is directed; aim; target.

verb (used with object)

  1. to cross out or delete, especially in order to invalidate or void (usually followed by out ):

    to blank out an entry.

  2. Informal. to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.
  3. Metalworking. to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.

blank

/ blæŋk /

adjective

  1. (of a writing surface) bearing no marks; not written on
  2. (of a form, etc) with spaces left for details to be filled in
  3. without ornament or break; unrelieved

    a blank wall

  4. not filled in; empty; void

    a blank space

  5. exhibiting no interest or expression

    a blank look

  6. lacking understanding; confused

    he looked blank even after the explanations

  7. absolute; complete

    blank rejection

  8. devoid of ideas or inspiration

    his mind went blank in the exam

  9. unproductive; barren
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. an emptiness; void; blank space
  2. an empty space for writing in, as on a printed form
  3. a printed form containing such empty spaces
  4. something characterized by incomprehension or mental confusion

    my mind went a complete blank

  5. a mark, often a dash, in place of a word, esp a taboo word
  6. short for blank cartridge
  7. a plate or plug used to seal an aperture
  8. a piece of material prepared for stamping, punching, forging, etc
  9. archery the white spot in the centre of a target
  10. draw a blank
    1. to choose a lottery ticket that fails to win
    2. to get no results from something
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. usually foll by out to cross out, blot, or obscure
  2. slang.
    to ignore or be unresponsive towards (someone)

    the crowd blanked her for the first four numbers

  3. to forge, stamp, punch, or cut (a piece of material) in preparation for forging, die-stamping, or drawing operations
  4. often foll by off to seal (an aperture) with a plate or plug
  5. informal.
    to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈblankness, noun
  • ˈblankly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • blankness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of blank1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun and adjective) from Anglo-French, French blanc; adjective from Germanic; compare Old English blanca “white horse,” Old High German blanch “bright, white” ( German blank )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of blank1

C15: from Old French blanc white, of Germanic origin; related to Old English blanca a white horse
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. draw a blank,
    1. to fail in an attempt; be unsuccessful:

      We've drawn a blank in the investigation.

    2. to fail to comprehend or be unable to recollect:

      He asked me their phone number and I drew a blank.

More idioms and phrases containing blank

In addition to the idiom beginning with blank , also see draw a blank ; fill in (the blanks) .
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Synonym Study

See empty.
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Example Sentences

Yet the Pacers are also the best at stopping those point-blank looks.

For the third time in just over a week, the Washington Wizards stood and watched as an opponent missed a point-blank shot in the final seconds to help them secure a victory.

This oatmeal pudding is the blank canvas for all of my easiest, most comforting breakfasts.

From Eater

Just about every single late-stage company in private markets at the moment has been contacted by a blank-check company looking for a deal.

From Fortune

Enter your sitemap URL in the blank field, and hit the Submit button.

In front of this strange structure are two blank-faced, well-dressed models showing off the latest in European minimalism.

Tonn and Blank Construction An Indiana construction company.

In the case of Steven Eugene Washington, nothing more than a blank stare made him a target for police bullets.

After that granite band is filled in, there are seven more blank ones on the next block.

Another blank band go to the cops who transformed New York into the safest big city in America.

Edna's face was a blank picture of bewilderment, which she never thought of disguising.

Sir Edward Bruce is said to have decided the question by a point-blank refusal to retire.

As in a trance he crosses the room, seizes charcoal, and feverishly works at the blank canvas on the easel.

The shingled old house offered blank windows to the road, like so many sightless eyes.

It is usual for companies to execute blank policies in due form to be filled out and delivered by their agents.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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