bleep

American  

[bleep] / blip /

noun

1. a brief, constant beeping sound, usually of a high pitch and generated by an electronic device.

2. such an electronic sound used to replace a censored word or phrase, as on a television broadcast.

3. Also (used as a euphemism to indicate the omission or deletion of an obscenity or other objectionable word.)

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verb (used without object)

1. (of an electronic device) to emit a series of bleeps as an audible signal, summons, or warning.

verb (used with object)

1. Also to censor (an obscene, vulgar, or other objectionable word or phrase) from a radio or television broadcast by deleting from the audio signal, leaving a gap or an electronic tone.

   The word was bleeped out of the comedian's routine.

bleep British  

/ bliːp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched signal made by an electronic apparatus; beep

2. another word for bleeper

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verb

1. (intr) to make such a noise

2. (tr) to call (someone) by triggering the bleeper he or she is wearing

Etymology

Origin of bleep

First recorded in 1950–55; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

The six-part comedy may bleep out every mention of “FIFA” and “Cup.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

He said the alarms were all connected, so if one sounded, they all sounded, and a smoke alarm might bleep if the main power supply had been cut off and the battery power was low.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2024

It wasn’t that we were super eager to curse, but it was funny to bleep things.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2024

The bleep machine has been called on shift for first practice as Max Verstappen details his frustrations at his Red Bull's performance at Turn 11, calling it a "disaster" and adding he has "no grip".

From BBC • May 16, 2024

I kind of sleep, kind of don’t—the bells go off, announcements bleep out across the air.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• annul
• black out
• cross out
• cut out
• destroy
• eliminate
• erase
• expunge
• omit
• remove
• wipe out