blur

1 of 2

noun

ˈblər 

1

: a smear or stain that obscures

2

: something vaguely or indistinctly perceived

The words are just a blur without his glasses.

The whole weekend is a blur to me.

especially : something moving or occurring too quickly to be clearly seen

passed by in a blur of motion

blur

2 of 2

verb

blurred; blurring

transitive verb

1

: to obscure or blemish by smearing

windows blurred by fingerprints

2

: sully

… an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty.

—Shakespeare

3

: to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character

His vision was blurred.

digitally blur the edges of photographs

blurring the line between fact and fiction

4

: to make cloudy or confused

time had begun to blur her senses

—W. A. White

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make blurs

… the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen …

—R. P. Warren

b

: move too quickly to be seen clearly

… it's like the … ride of a traveling carnival, with eerie lights and sharp turns on the rails and the odd unsettling image that blurs past you.

—Adrian McKinty

2

: to become vague or indistinct

distinctions between the two are beginning to blur

blurringly

ˈblər-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Verb

• becloud
• befog
• cloud
• confuse
• fog
• muddy
• obfuscate

Examples of blur in a Sentence

Verb

The tears in my eyes blurred the words on the page.

His novel is based on historical occurrences but it blurs the line between fact and fiction.

The two events have blurred together in my mind.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For now, his future is a blur — and that’s OK with him. —Ilana Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

As a spectacle, there is the gasp at a ball in a speed of sound blur. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

Fleming discussed how luxury products are increasingly being treated as collectible items, similar to limited-edition art pieces, further blurring the lines between art and commercial fashion. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, on the ingredient front, peptides are making their way into shampoos, serums, and scalp sprays, blurring the lines between skin care and hair care. —Sam Escobar, Allure, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

perhaps akin to Middle English bleren to blear

First Known Use

Noun

1519, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1520, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

blur

1 of 2 noun

ˈblər 

1

: a smear or stain that dims but does not completely cover

2

: something vague or lacking definite outline

blurry

-ē

adjective

blur

2 of 2 verb

blurred; blurring

1

: to make hard to see or read by smearing

2

: to make or become vague or unclear