blank
adjective · noun · verb
Simple meaning
Free from writing, printing.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
blangkIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈblæŋk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
adjective
Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in.
Abject; absolute; complete; downright; sheer; utter.
figurative
Without expression, usually because of incomprehension.
Empty; void; without result; fruitless; futile.
Utterly confounded or discomfited.
Devoid of thoughts, memory, or inspiration.
noun
A lot by which nothing is gained; a ticket in a lottery on which no prize is indicated [since the 16th century].
The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim.
Provisional words printed in italics (instead of blank spaces) in a bill before Parliament, being matters of practical detail, of which the final form is to be settled in committee.
An empty space; a void, for example on a paper.
An empty space in one's memory; a forgotten item or memory [since the 18th century].
A space to be filled in on a form or template.
verb
transitive
To make void; to erase.
transitive
To prevent from scoring; for example, in a sporting event.
transitiveslang
To ignore (a person) deliberately.
intransitiveinformal
To experience a temporary lapse of memory; to be temporarily unable to remember a particular fact. (Commonly used in the first person, present progressive tense, and commonly followed by on to create a transitive phrasal verb.)
intransitive
To become blank.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in.
Used this way, blank is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Be unable to remember.
A cartridge containing an explosive charge but no bullet.
A blank area.
Unrhymed verse (usually in iambic pentameter).
An endorsement on commercial paper naming no payee and so payable to the bearer.
A check that has been signed but with the amount payable left blank.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.