blankly
Americanadverb
-
without expression or understanding.
She stared blankly at her inquisitors.
-
in every respect; totally; fully.
He blankly denied ever saying such a thing.
Etymology
Origin of blankly
Explanation
To do something in a plain, expressionless, or empty way is to do it blankly. If you gaze blankly into the distance, you have no expression on your face at all. If you've ever made an announcement or given a speech only to have everyone stare blankly at you, you know exactly what this adverb means. People who look blankly at the TV set don't seem to be having much fun, and kids who gaze blankly at their math teacher don't appear to understand the equations she's writing on the board. Blankly comes from blank, which means both "bare or empty" and "void of expression."
Vocabulary lists containing blankly
The Lions of Little Rock
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"Morning Song" by Sylvia Plath
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some scowl or stare blankly at the camera.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
If they stare at me blankly, I’m out.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
For the first time, Heuermann, who had been staring straight ahead blankly, turned towards the podium, then immediately back.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
As time wore down, Doncic sat on the bench next to Reaves, staring blankly, hands folded in his lap, like so many Lakers fans at the arena.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026
She looks at me blankly, and I explain, “We always go late everywhere. It’s almost a tradition.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
