blank
1 of 3adjective
ˈblaŋk 
1
archaic : colorless
2
a
: appearing or causing to appear dazed, confounded, or nonplussed
stared in blank dismay
b
: expressionless
a blank stare
3
a
: devoid of covering or content
a blank space
: such as (1)
: free from writing or marks
a blank sheet of paper
(2)
: without any recorded sound or information
a blank drive/DVD/disk
b
: having spaces to be filled in
a blank application form
see also blank check c
: lacking interest, variety, or change
blank hours
4
: absolute, unqualified
a blank refusal
5
: unfinished
especially : having a plain or unbroken surface where an opening is usual
a blank key
a blank arch
blankly adverb
blankness noun
blank
2 of 3noun
1
obsolete : the bull's-eye of a target
2
a
: an empty space (as on a paper)
b
: a paper with spaces for the entry of data
an order blank
3
a
: a piece of material prepared to be made into something (such as a key) by a further operation
b
: a cartridge loaded with propellant and a seal but no projectile
4
a
: an empty or featureless place or space
my mind was a blank
b
: a vacant or uneventful period
a long blank in history
5
: a dash substituting for an omitted word
blank
3 of 3verb
blanked; blanking; blanks
transitive verb
1
a
: obscure, obliterate
blank out a line
b
: to stop access to : seal
blank off a tunnel
2
: to keep (an opponent) from scoring
were blanked for eight innings
3
British slang : to treat (a friend or acquaintance) in a hostile or unfriendly way : to ignore or refuse to talk to (someone)
And unpopular Gardiner has found himself isolated after the show's cast and crew blanked him.
Mark Jefferies
Mark Jefferiesintransitive verb
1
: fade —usually used with out
the music blanked out
2
: to become confused or abstracted —often used with out
his mind blanked out momentarily
Synonyms
Adjective
- catatonic
- deadpan
- empty
- expressionless
- impassive
- inexpressive
- numb
- stolid
- vacant
Noun
- document
- form
- paper
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a blank sheet of paper a book with blank pages Noun The form has a blank for your signature. The actors are shooting blanks. Verb The goalie blanked the Falcons for two periods in the hockey game.
Recent Examples on the Web Michael Lee, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 For us, the Gx bottle is a blank canvas for storytelling and an opportunity to collaborate with our athletes to bring their journey to life in a creative way. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2022 This foundation blurs out the skin, leaving a blank canvas that's perfect for blush or bronzer. ELLE, 22 June 2022 Like the real deal, palm noodles are basically a blank canvas—lending themselves well to so many different meals. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 11 June 2022 The filling is inoffensive ricotta and four other filler cheeses, a blank canvas for saucing up. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 31 May 2022 Think of it like a blank canvas for all of your spring spirit. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2022 Versatility and practicality both work in its favor, but the real lure is its ability to be a blank canvas for one’s personal style. Sarah Adams, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Other compositions position elementary black shapes on blank canvas but insert subtle white forms that are visible only on close inspection. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Rima Abdelkader, NBC News, 23 Aug. 2022 Segel earns some empathy as a hangdog Everyman, though his backstory remains such a deliberate blank that any insight is mostly gleaned from his blundering missteps and low-simmering misery. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2022 But the bill stops short of banning all functional guns — including blank-firing weapons — from film and TV sets. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Jan. 2022 So, draw your own conclusion by filling in the blank in the following sentence with a) or b). Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Dec. 2021 Fill in the blank: Koufax, Gibson, Maddux, Valenzula, Scherzer, Buehler etc. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2021 But the Jets couldn’t keep up with the Colts, who scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions – and on the one blank were stopped on downs at the New York 1-yard line. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 4 Nov. 2021 Fill in the blank with service, customer service rep, salesperson, product, etc. Shep Hyken, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2021 That caused the blank to propel the dummy round out of the barrel, striking Lee. Justin Curto, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2021 Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Blanchard managed to force two pop outs and a strikeout to blank Fairfield-Ludlowe with the night’s drama at its peak. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2022 Jack Brown and Joey Wilmoth helped the Tigers blank the Shamrocks the following day. Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Apr. 2022 But a strikeout of Hays with an 88-mph changeup to end the inning seemed to catapult Syndergaard into the rest of his night, the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder needing only 63 pitches to blank the Orioles on two hits over the next 4 2/3 innings. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2022 The North Eastern girls varsity high school ice hockey team traveled to Piney Orchard Ice Rink last Friday to face and blank Howard County, 6-0. Randy Mcroberts, baltimoresun.com, 24 Nov. 2021 Instead, the floors of the apartment were concrete, the walls blank plaster. New York Times, 1 Oct. 2021 Wily Peralta and Kyle Funkhouser combined to blank Houston on two hits through the fifth. Dave Hogg, Chron, 27 June 2021 Wily Peralta and Kyle Funkhouser combined to blank Houston on two hits through the fifth. Dave Hogg, Chron, 27 June 2021 See More
Adjective
The City of Vincent's website includes a section with information about the town's police department, but as of Sunday the page was blank. Michael Lee, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2022 For us, the Gx bottle is a blank canvas for storytelling and an opportunity to collaborate with our athletes to bring their journey to life in a creative way. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2022 This foundation blurs out the skin, leaving a blank canvas that's perfect for blush or bronzer. ELLE, 22 June 2022 Like the real deal, palm noodles are basically a blank canvas—lending themselves well to so many different meals. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 11 June 2022 The filling is inoffensive ricotta and four other filler cheeses, a blank canvas for saucing up. Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 31 May 2022 Think of it like a blank canvas for all of your spring spirit. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2022 Versatility and practicality both work in its favor, but the real lure is its ability to be a blank canvas for one’s personal style. Sarah Adams, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Other compositions position elementary black shapes on blank canvas but insert subtle white forms that are visible only on close inspection. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Noun
Basma Abu Hattab, who served as a supervisor on the solar panel installation for the blood blank, said the solar panels add at least 10 more hours of capacity but still advised that the blood bank keep a generator on standby. Rima Abdelkader, NBC News, 23 Aug. 2022 Segel earns some empathy as a hangdog Everyman, though his backstory remains such a deliberate blank that any insight is mostly gleaned from his blundering missteps and low-simmering misery. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2022 But the bill stops short of banning all functional guns — including blank-firing weapons — from film and TV sets. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Jan. 2022 So, draw your own conclusion by filling in the blank in the following sentence with a) or b). Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Dec. 2021 Fill in the blank: Koufax, Gibson, Maddux, Valenzula, Scherzer, Buehler etc. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2021 But the Jets couldn’t keep up with the Colts, who scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions – and on the one blank were stopped on downs at the New York 1-yard line. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 4 Nov. 2021 Fill in the blank with service, customer service rep, salesperson, product, etc. Shep Hyken, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2021 That caused the blank to propel the dummy round out of the barrel, striking Lee. Justin Curto, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2021 Verb
May surviving a rocky 26-pitch first inning to blank the Miami Marlins on one hit and strike out nine in five shutout innings of a 7-0 victory in front of 51,813 at Dodger Stadium. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Blanchard managed to force two pop outs and a strikeout to blank Fairfield-Ludlowe with the night’s drama at its peak. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2022 Jack Brown and Joey Wilmoth helped the Tigers blank the Shamrocks the following day. Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Apr. 2022 But a strikeout of Hays with an 88-mph changeup to end the inning seemed to catapult Syndergaard into the rest of his night, the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder needing only 63 pitches to blank the Orioles on two hits over the next 4 2/3 innings. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2022 The North Eastern girls varsity high school ice hockey team traveled to Piney Orchard Ice Rink last Friday to face and blank Howard County, 6-0. Randy Mcroberts, baltimoresun.com, 24 Nov. 2021 Instead, the floors of the apartment were concrete, the walls blank plaster. New York Times, 1 Oct. 2021 Wily Peralta and Kyle Funkhouser combined to blank Houston on two hits through the fifth. Dave Hogg, Chron, 27 June 2021 Wily Peralta and Kyle Funkhouser combined to blank Houston on two hits through the fifth. Dave Hogg, Chron, 27 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French blanc colorless, white, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German blanch white; probably akin to Latin flagrare to burn — more at black entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1764, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing blank
Kids Definition
blank 1 of 2
adjective
ˈblaŋk
1
: not having any writing or marks
a blank page
2
: having empty spaces to be filled in
a blank order form
3
: not showing emotion or understanding
a blank look
blank
2 of 2noun
1
: an empty space in a line of writing or printing
2
: a paper with empty spaces to be filled in
"Do you have your entry blank for the dog show?" Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins
Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins3
: a cartridge loaded with powder but no bullet
4
: events or a time that cannot be remembered
Everything after the accident is a blank.
blank 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in empty
not expressing any emotion the teacher knew no one was paying attention when she looked out and saw all those blank faces Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- empty
- vacant
- expressionless
- motionless
- catatonic
- inexpressive
- vague
- impassive
- dull
- enigmatic
- numb
- stolid
- deadpan
- enigmatical
- wooden
- detached
- restrained
- static
- vacuous
- mysterious
- vapid
- reserved
- still
- inscrutable
- cold
- impenetrable
- cool
- taciturn
- apathetic
- unresponsive
- indifferent
- aloof
- reticent
- phlegmatic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expressive
- active
- interested
- bright
- engaged
- busy
- dynamic
- responsive
- expansive
- animated
- exuberant
- alive
- demonstrative
- energetic
- lively
- eloquent
- effervescent
- revealing
- vivacious
- gestural
- revelatory
- emotional
- unrestrained
- theatrical
- unreserved
- gestic
- melodramatic
- gesticulative
- gesticulatory
- gesticulant
- theatric
2
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present the page of instructions actually turned out to be blank Synonyms & Similar Words
- empty
- devoid
- void
- barren
- vacant
- emptied
- bare
- hollow
- clean
- vacuous
- stark
- drained
- unfilled
- open
- toom
- deserted
- clear
- unoccupied
- available
- depleted
- free
- uninhabited
- dry
- unattended
- abandoned
- exhausted
- vacated
- forsaken
- unfurnished
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- full
- complete
- filled
- provided
- replete
- supplied
- occupied
- furnished
- flush
- packed
- overflowing
- teeming
3
as in complete
having no exceptions or restrictions his blank refusal to even consider my request for an unpaid leave of absence Synonyms & Similar Words
- complete
- utter
- simple
- unconditional
- pure
- sheer
- total
- absolute
- damned
- definite
- outright
- damn
- perfect
- stone
- very
- endless
- stark
- unqualified
- flat
- huge
- clean
- real
- regular
- profound
- unadulterated
- crashing
- categorical
- unmitigated
- dreadful
- dead
- plumb
- deadly
- constant
- straight-out
- downright
- unalloyed
- blooming
- flat-out
- perpetual
- thoroughgoing
- arrant
- out-and-out
- thorough
- genuine
- bodacious
- rank
- horrible
- hopeless
- consummate
- main
- categoric
- fair
- terrible
- authentic
- eternal
- veritable
- unrestricted
- all-out
- unremitting
- classic
- extreme
- habitual
- undying
- confirmed
- terrific
- inveterate
- frightful
- supreme
- extraordinary
- superlative
- surpassing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncertain
- restricted
- doubtful
- questionable
- qualified
- dubious
- equivocal
blank
2 of 3noun
1
as in form
a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it handed him an employment blank to fill out Synonyms & Similar Words
- form
- paper
- document
- sheet
- filing
- instrument
- writ
2
as in emptiness
empty space a blank on the form for the patient's insurance policy number Synonyms & Similar Words
- emptiness
- void
- blankness
- vacancy
- black hole
- gap
- vacuity
- open
- nothingness
- vacuum
- inane
- hollow
- cavity
- hollowness
- hole
- barrenness
- air
- waste
- bleakness
- desolateness
- bareness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fullness
- fulness
- repleteness
blank
3 of 3verb
as in to ignore
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignore
- disregard
- pass over
- slight
- neglect
- miss
- slur (over)
- lose
- overpass
- forget
- overlook
- disremember
- unlearn
- misremember
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mind
- remember
- think (of)
- recollect
- recall
- flash back (to)
- reminisce (about)
- hark back (to)
- harken back (to)
- remind
- hearken back (to)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.
a blank wall
Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.
an empty bucket
In some situations, the words vacant and blank are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.
a vacant apartment
The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.
a vacuous facial expression
The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.
a statement void of meaning