blindly
Americanadverb
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in a blind manner.
We felt our way blindly through the black tunnel.
-
without understanding, reservation, or objection; unthinkingly.
They followed their leaders blindly.
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without continuation.
The passage ended blindly 50 feet away.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of blindly
before 900; Middle English; Old English blindlīce; see blind, -ly
Explanation
To do something blindly is to do it without looking. This word also refers to doing things thoughtlessly. If you blindly accept the friendship ring someone gives you, you might find yourself going to the prom with the wrong date. There are two related senses of blindly, but both involve being in the dark. If you enter a room blindly, you have your eyes closed or can't find the light switch. A quarterback might blindly throw the ball if he's under pressure and can't see the receivers. Similarly, to make a decision blindly is to do it without careful consideration. Actions taken blindly are done without looking at the risks. People tend to get in trouble when they act blindly.
Vocabulary lists containing blindly
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.
“Any media outlet blindly amplifying Kimmel’s egocentric delusion should insist on proof. Of which they will find none.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
It’s a one-track, single-minded way of thinking, eerily reminiscent of, oh, I don’t know, a hungry coyote blindly pursuing a roadrunner.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
But trusting them blindly is a mistake unless they are grounded in real data.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Jiang was “eager for quick success, and acted blindly and recklessly,” the party’s top disciplinary agency said in April when announcing his expulsion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Some of them worked in the dark, feeling their way blindly, in cold so fierce their hands froze to the metal tools they held as they made sure their companions were able to fly.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
