blink

American  

[blingk] / blɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

1. to close and reopen the eyes, especially involuntarily.

   Every time I blink, it makes the cut on my eyelid hurt.

2. to look with half-shut eyes or rapidly closing and opening eyes.

   I blinked at the harsh morning light.

3. to be startled, surprised, or dismayed (usually followed byat ).

   She blinked at his sudden fury.

4. to look evasively or with indifference; ignore (often followed byat ).

   to blink at another's eccentricities.

5. to shine unsteadily, dimly, or intermittently; twinkle; flicker.

   The light on the buoy blinked in the distance.

6. to yield or back down from a confrontation.

   All eyes are on the two nations' standoff, waiting to see who blinks.

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verb (used with object)

1. to close and reopen (the eye or eyes), usually rapidly, repeatedly, or involuntarily;

   She blinked her eyes in an effort to wake up.

2. to cause (something) to twinkle or shine intermittently.

   We blinked the flashlight frantically, but there was no response.

3. Rare. to ignore deliberately; evade; shirk.

   Although deaths continue to rise, the authorities have blinked the problem.

   Synonyms:

   condone, avoid, disregard, overlook

noun

1. an act or instance of closing and reopening the eyes, especially repeatedly or involuntarily.

   She claimed not to be startled, but her blink betrayed her.

2. the act or condition of flickering, twinkling, or shining intermittently.

   The faithful blink of the lighthouse comforted the crew.

   Synonyms:

   flutter, twinkle, flicker, wink

3. a gleam; glimmer.

   There was not a blink of light anywhere.

4. Chiefly Scot. a glance or glimpse.

5. Meteorology.

   1. iceblink.

   2. snowblink.

idioms

1. on the blink, not in proper working order; in need of repair.

   The washing machine is on the blink again.

blink British  

/ blɪŋk /

verb

1. to close and immediately reopen (the eyes or an eye), usually involuntarily

2. (intr) to look with the eyes partially closed, as in strong sunlight

3. to shine intermittently, as in signalling, or unsteadily

4. (tr; foll by away, from, etc) to clear the eyes of (dust, tears, etc)

5. to be surprised or amazed

   he blinked at the splendour of the ceremony

6. to pretend not to know or see (a fault, injustice, etc)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of blinking

2. a glance; glimpse

3. short for iceblink

4. slang not working properly

blink More Idioms  

1. see on the blink.

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Usage

What does blink mean? To blink is to open and close the eyes rapidly, usually involuntarily. A blink is the act of blinking.To blink is also to shine unsteadily, as a light that is about to die might.In a figurative sense, to blink means to be startled or dismayed, as in Carter blinked at all the money his business partner spent on traveling.To blink can also mean to ignore or avoid something, as in Society will blink at rude behavior if the person being rude is powerful enough.Example: Blink your eyes when you see the light flash.

Related Words

See wink ¹.

Etymology

Origin of blink

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb blincken, variant of blenchen, blenken “to quail, shrink back, blench” ( blench ¹ ); cognate with Dutch, German blinken

Example Sentences

Some matches drag on in interminable tedium, others are over in the blink of an eye.

From BBC

While most scientific research on blinking has focused on eyesight, a new study from Concordia University explores a different connection.

From Science Daily

Lloyd moved on to small, blinking, symmetrical configurations that, almost 60 years later, seem slightly old-fashioned.

From The Wall Street Journal

There's been so many games where you cannot blink or take anything for granted.

From BBC

"Oh, gosh. Honestly, I'm going to get emotional thinking about that," she says, glancing skyward and blinking rapidly.

From BBC

Related Words

• flash
• flicker
• flutter
• sparkle
• squint