blank
(of paper or other writing surface) having no marks; not written or printed on: a blank sheet of paper.
not filled in, as a printed form: a blank check.
unrelieved or unbroken by ornament, opening, decoration, etc.: a blank wall.
lacking some usual or completing feature: An image is stamped onto a blank coin by a die.
(of a recording medium) containing no previously recorded information: She transferred all the restored data onto a blank hard drive.I still have a few blank CD-ROMs.: Compare prerecorded (def. 2).
void of interest, variety, results, etc.: She sometimes occupied her blank days reading detective stories.
showing no attention, interest, or emotion: a blank expression on his face.
disconcerted; nonplussed; speechless: He looked blank when I asked him why he applied for the job.
complete; utter; unmitigated: blank stupidity.
Archaic. white; pale; colorless.
a place where something is lacking; an empty space: a blank in one's memory.
a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in: Write your name in the blank.
a printed form containing such spaces: Have you filled out one of these blanks?
a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., especially to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.
Metalworking. a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.
Archery. the bull's-eye.
to cross out or delete, especially in order to invalidate or void (usually followed by out): to blank out an entry.
Informal. to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.
Metalworking. to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.
Idioms about blank
draw a blank,
to fail in an attempt; be unsuccessful: We've drawn a blank in the investigation.
to fail to comprehend or be unable to recollect: He asked me their phone number and I drew a blank.
Origin of blank
1synonym study For blank
Other words for blank
8 | astounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck; perplexed |
9 | downright, pure, thorough, unadulterated; perfect, absolute, unqualified |
11 | void, vacancy, emptiness; gap, lacuna, hiatus |
Other words from blank
- blankness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use blank in a sentence
Bloc voting for allies, and totally blanking your political foes, became the norm.
Why Russia Hates The Bearded Lady: The Hairy Politics of Eurovision | Tim Teeman | May 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGuided to the room, he sank inertly into his chair and feebly fought off the blackness that kept blanking his sight.
Back Home | Irvin S. CobbNevertheless, Bender had no difficulty in blanking the Merries in the first of the eighth.
Frank Merriwell's Son | Burt L. StandishEvylyn had sat down heavily in a Morris chair, her brows drawn very close together eyes blanking furiously.
Flappers and Philosophers | F. Scott FitzgeraldAnd maybe the watch itself caused the complete blanking of his telepathic faculties.
Occasion for Disaster | Gordon Randall Garrett
Some one said: "If I cop a hold of the blankety blank blanker what trod on my blanking 'and, I'll just about——!"
Nights in London | Thomas Burke
British Dictionary definitions for blank
/ (blæŋk) /
(of a writing surface) bearing no marks; not written on
(of a form, etc) with spaces left for details to be filled in
without ornament or break; unrelieved: a blank wall
not filled in; empty; void: a blank space
exhibiting no interest or expression: a blank look
lacking understanding; confused: he looked blank even after the explanations
absolute; complete: blank rejection
devoid of ideas or inspiration: his mind went blank in the exam
unproductive; barren
an emptiness; void; blank space
an empty space for writing in, as on a printed form
a printed form containing such empty spaces
something characterized by incomprehension or mental confusion: my mind went a complete blank
a mark, often a dash, in place of a word, esp a taboo word
short for blank cartridge
a plate or plug used to seal an aperture
a piece of material prepared for stamping, punching, forging, etc
archery the white spot in the centre of a target
draw a blank
to choose a lottery ticket that fails to win
to get no results from something
(usually foll by out) to cross out, blot, or obscure
slang to ignore or be unresponsive towards (someone): the crowd blanked her for the first four numbers
to forge, stamp, punch, or cut (a piece of material) in preparation for forging, die-stamping, or drawing operations
(often foll by off) to seal (an aperture) with a plate or plug
US and Canadian informal to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game
Origin of blank
1Derived forms of blank
- blankly, adverb
- blankness, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with blank
In addition to the idiom beginning with blank
- blank check
also see:
- draw a blank
- fill in (the blanks)
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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