blindly
Americanadverb
-
in a blind manner.
We felt our way blindly through the black tunnel.
-
without understanding, reservation, or objection; unthinkingly.
They followed their leaders blindly.
-
without continuation.
The passage ended blindly 50 feet away.
Other Word Forms
- overblindly adverb
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.
If I were in Makhmudov's corner, I'd say rush him - not blindly, but get close, get on his chest and get in front of him.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
“Then they’d say we needed to have faith in them. But we couldn’t keep blindly trusting them.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
Yet everyone loves a bargain, and no investor should blindly pay high prices.
From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026
Even if you hire a top team — including an experienced estate-planning attorney and financial adviser — don’t blindly follow their lead.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025
He’d struggled to his feet, then stomped around blindly until he tripped again.
From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis
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.
