blitz
blitz
American
[blits]
/ blɪts /
noun
-
blitzes
plural
-
Military.
-
an overwhelming all-out attack, especially a swift ground attack using armored units and air support.
-
an intensive aerial bombing.
-
-
any swift, vigorous attack, barrage, or defeat.
a blitz of commercials every few minutes.
-
Football. act or instance of charging directly for (the passer) as soon as the ball is snapped; red-dogging.
verb (used with object)
-
blitzes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
blitzed,
past participle, past
-
blitzing
present participle
-
to attack or defeat with or as if with a blitz.
The town was blitzed mercilessly by enemy planes. The visitors really blitzed the home team.
-
to destroy; demolish.
His last-minute refusal blitzed all our plans.
verb (used without object)
-
blitzes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
blitzed,
past participle, past
-
blitzing
present participle
-
Football. to charge directly and immediately at the passer; red-dog.
-
to move in the manner of a blitz.
a car that will blitz through rough terrain.
blitz
1
British
/ blɪts /
noun
-
a violent and sustained attack, esp with intensive aerial bombardment
-
any sudden intensive attack or concerted effort
an advertising blitz
a drink-driving blitz
-
American football a defensive charge on the quarterback
verb
Blitz
2
British
/ blɪts /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
blitzsimple
-
blitzessimple
-
have blitzedperfect
-
has blitzedperfect
-
am blitzingprogressive
-
are blitzingprogressive
-
is blitzingprogressive
-
have been blitzingperfect progressive
-
has been blitzingperfect progressive
Past
-
blitzedsimple
-
had blitzedperfect
-
was blitzingprogressive
-
were blitzingprogressive
-
had been blitzingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of blitz
First recorded in 1935–40; shortening of blitzkrieg
Explanation
A sudden, overwhelming military attack during war is a blitz. Sometimes a major blitz can lead to the end of a conflict. The idea of a blitz is that it either overpowers or completely surprises the enemy, and it often involves bombing from overhead. The military use of blitz has migrated to sports as well, especially in American football when the defense bursts through the offense or rushes the passer. Any kind of unexpected attack, in fact, has come to be known as a blitz. The word comes from the German Blitzkrieg, "rapid attack."
Vocabulary lists containing blitz
Set, Hut! Football Vocabulary
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Super Bowl Blowout: Epic Vocab for the Big Game
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Words Football Fans Can Master Easily
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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.
See Examples For:
There’s also been concern that the borrowing blitz results in overbuilding that could saddle debt investors with big losses.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
He has been receiving private instruction to understand his role of blocking specific defenders and adjusting when linebackers blitz.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Later in 2023, she won the top women’s prize in the European championship blitz competition, where players have to make lightning-fast moves under time pressure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The reforms come after a policy blitz during Burnham's first two weeks in Downing Street, with announcements on the cost of living followed by a speech on his plan to overhaul social care.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Convinced that the 13 women deserved more than a brief blitz of media attention, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh decided to honor the Mercury 13 in 2007.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
"It was like the scenes of the Blitz, just a blazing inferno, the flames were moving so quickly," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“By next year,” Blitz said, “they’re going to be hiking” unless the equity market crashes.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026
Other apps, like tile-matching game Disney Emoji Blitz — complete with a special “Toy Story” character pack for the new film — are listed for ages nine and up.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
More drones followed, once more plunging the residents of this besieged city into a 21st century version of the Blitz.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
London remains the bull’s-eye of the Blitz, as newspapers are calling it.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
As he blitzes podcasts, Substack and beyond, we explore why the younger Biden is opening up now—and what he wants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
It blitzes together a very respectable chickpea salad in minutes.
From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2026
It funds Presler: his voter-registration blitzes, volunteer trainings, and aggressive get-out-the-vote operations.
From Slate ● Dec. 8, 2025
There were no massive rallies or advertisement blitzes in a contest that largely played out on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2025
Planning continental blitzes is a favorite past-time around high-level strategic commands; it keeps the boys in trim.
From Check and Checkmate by Walter M. Miller
Aneurin Donald blitzed 38 off 19 before quickfire cameos of 20 from Mitch Santner and 32 from Lewis Gregory lifted the Rockets to 158-8.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
If Canada, which blitzed Qatar for its first-ever World Cup victory, wins or draws against Switzerland, it will win the group and play its round-of-32 game in Vancouver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
I scraped the whole mixture into my mini blender with a splash of water and blitzed it into a deep orange paste the color of late autumn leaves or a very expensive velvet couch.
From Salon ● May 12, 2026
How could they not be a little worried to be facing a reanimated zombie team that blitzed 56-win Boston?
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
Then a purple-brown blur blitzed in from the side, landing on the charging beast.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
My mini-blender has long been a quiet ally — mincing onions when my joints aren’t cooperating, blitzing together a very good chickpea salad in no time.
From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2026
Bad Bunny delivered a buoyant celebration of Latino culture during his halftime show, blitzing through reggaeton, Latin trap and salsa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
Pinheiro Braathen had led the way in the first run with Elezi Cannaferina blitzing the field in the second.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
They duly won 27-19 after blitzing the Wallabies in the first half and secured the series - with Aki now in the side - in Melbourne the following week.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025
So right now, I channeled my inner line-backer blitzing the quarterback.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
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.
