blur
Americanverb (used with object)
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to obscure or sully (something) by smearing or with a smeary substance.
The windows were blurred with soot.
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to obscure by making confused in form or outline; make indistinct.
The fog blurred the outline of the car.
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to dim the perception or susceptibility of; make dull or insensible.
The blow on the head blurred his senses.
verb (used without object)
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to become indistinct.
Everything blurred as she ran.
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to make blurs.
noun
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a smudge or smear that obscures.
a blur of smoke.
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a blurred condition; indistinctness.
They could see nothing in the foggy blur.
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something seen indistinctly.
The ship appeared as a blur against the horizon.
verb
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to make or become vague or less distinct
heat haze blurs the hills
education blurs class distinctions
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to smear or smudge
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(tr) to make (the judgment, memory, or perception) less clear; dim
noun
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something vague, hazy, or indistinct
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a smear or smudge
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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blurrednessnoun
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blurrinessnoun
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blurredadjective
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blurryadjective
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unblurredadjective
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blurredlyadverb
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blurringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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blursimple
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blurssimple
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have blurredperfect
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has blurredperfect
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am blurringprogressive
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are blurringprogressive
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is blurringprogressive
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have been blurringperfect progressive
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has been blurringperfect progressive
Past
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blurredsimple
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had blurredperfect
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was blurringprogressive
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were blurringprogressive
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had been blurringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of blur
First recorded in 1540–50; akin to blear
Explanation
To blur is to make or become unfocused and fuzzy. Crying hard can cause your vision to blur until you wipe your tears away. Heavy smog or early morning fog can blur your view of the city, and two candidates' similar views can blur the differences between their political parties. In both cases, things become indistinct and hazy. You can also call the haze itself a blur: "The whole day was just a blur after the exciting news I got in the morning." In the 16th century, blur meant "smear on the surface of writing."
Vocabulary lists containing blur
Kindred
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It's All a Blur: Synonyms for "Unclear"
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Brown Girl Dreaming
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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.
Blur started out playing in "small venues to a small number of people" in the late 1980s and early 90s, before becoming stadium-fillers.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
The much-hyped 1995 Britpop battle between Oasis and Blur has been recreated for a new play in which the cast take sides.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
Spoiler: In reality, Blur beat Oasis to number one that week in 1995.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
Dave Rowntree’s photobook ‘No One You Know’ gives readers a look at Blur and Britpop’s earliest days.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2025
"Blur an' agres, Alick Nulty, don't be too curious, she comes from Bodagh Buie's."
From Fardorougha, The Miser The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William
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.
