What does "blur" mean?
A smear, smudge or blot.
Blur
/ˈblɜː/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A smear, smudge or blot.
- Grammar: blur is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: fuzz, aspersion, attaint, badge of infamy.
- Useful contrasts: clear processes, cognitive focus, crisp.
- Usage evidence: The sports car was going so fast it was just a blur as it passed by.
How to use "blur"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "blur" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "blur" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "blur" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "blur" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "blur" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fuzz" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "blur", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A smear, smudge or blot. countable, uncountable
- 2 a hazy or indistinct representation wordnet
- 3 Something that appears hazy or indistinct. countable, uncountable
"The surroundings went by in a blur."
- 4 Haziness, blurriness. uncountable
"Unfortunately, a small artificial pupil also tends to increase the amount of diffraction somewhat, but this increase in blur is considerably smaller than the decrease that results from the control of other factors."
- 5 A moral stain or blot. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"[…]with her raillyng sette a great blurre on myne honesty"
Verb
- 1 To make indistinct or hazy, to obscure or dim.
"to blur a photograph (by moving the camera while taking it)"
- 2 become vague or indistinct wordnet
- 3 To smear, stain or smudge.
"to blur a manuscript (by handling it while damp)"
- 4 make dim or indistinct wordnet
- 5 To become indistinct. intransitive
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 make unclear, indistinct, or blurred wordnet
- 7 To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
"His eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare."
- 8 make a smudge on; soil by smudging wordnet
- 9 To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation. obsolete, transitive
"Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, / But cannot blur my lost renown."
- 10 become glassy; lose clear vision wordnet
- 11 To transfer the input focus away from. transitive
"Then give this box focus to blur the first one: […]"
- 12 to make less distinct or clear wordnet
- 13 To use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it causes confusion between them.
Adjective
- 1 Lacking awareness; clueless or confused. Manglish, Singlish
"If a Singaporean gets frustrated at your stupidity, he can scold you for being blur as sotong (clueless as a squid)."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The sports car was going so fast it was just a blur as it passed by."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "blur"?
Common synonyms include: fuzz, aspersion, attaint, badge of infamy, bar sinister, baton.
How do you use "blur" in a sentence?
The sports car was going so fast it was just a blur as it passed by.
How do you pronounce "blur"?
Pronounced /ˈblɜː/.
Etymology
From earlier blurre, probably an alteration of blear, from Middle English bleren, from Old English *blerian (attested in āblered (“made bare, made bald”)), from Proto-West Germanic *blaʀjan, from Proto-Germanic *blazjaną (“to make pale”), from Proto-Germanic *blasaz (“pale”). Compare Scots blore, bloar (“to blur, cover with blots”), Low German bleeroged (“blear-eyed”). More at blear.