block out
Britishverb
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to plan or describe (something) in a general fashion
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to prevent the entry or consideration of (something)
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photog printing to mask part of (a negative), in order that light may not pass through it
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.
Users try to keep their voices low and often wear headphones to block out sound from their dictating neighbors, dialing down the annoyance factor.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
“We can’t just block out one sector of your constituents,” Garcia told the board.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
However, Chelsea's biggest superpower has been their ability to block out the noise, to bounce back when they have been written off, and ultimately, to win prizes.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
Uniformed staff aren’t alone in trying to block out news.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
He was panicking now: He could see no way out, and it was easier, as his fear mounted, to block out Voldemort’s thoughts, though his scar was still burning.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
