blue
1 of 3adjective
ˈblü 
bluer; bluest
1
: of the color whose hue is that of the clear sky : of the color blue (see blue entry 2 sense 1)
a blue jacket
her bright blue eyes
The house is blue with white shutters.
2
a
: bluish
the blue haze of tobacco smoke
b
: discolored by or as if by bruising
blue with cold
c
: bluish gray
a blue cat
3
a
: low in spirits : melancholy
has been feeling blue
b
: marked by low spirits : depressing
a blue funk
things looked blue
4
: wearing blue
the blue team
5
of a woman : learned, intellectual
… the ladies were very blue and well-informed …
W. M. Thackeray
W. M. Thackeray6
: puritanical
… a blue Sunday city … James Street
James Street7
a
: profane, indecent
a blue movie
b
: off-color, risqué
blue jokes
8
music : of, relating to, or used in blues (see blues sense 3)
a blue song
9
US politics : tending to support Democratic candidates or policies
As has become increasingly clear over the past few general elections, with their red states and blue states, an American Presidential campaign is no longer truly national. Hendrik Hertzberg
compare purple sense 3, red sense 5 Hendrik Hertzberg bluely adverb
blueness noun
blue
2 of 3noun
1
: a color whose hue is that of the clear sky or that of the portion of the color spectrum lying between green and violet
Blue is his favorite color.
shades of blue
2
a
: a pigment or dye that colors blue
b
: bluing
adding blue to the laundry
3
a
: blue clothing or cloth
will be wearing blue
b
blues plural : a blue costume or uniform
wearing their dress blues
4
a
: a Union soldier in the American Civil War
b
often capitalized : the Union army
the Blue versus the Gray
5
a(1)
: sky
(2)
: the far distance
disappeared into the blue
b
: sea
6
: a blue object
7
: bluestocking
praised the writings of her fellow blues
8
biology : any of numerous small chiefly blue butterflies (family Lycaenidae)
9
: bluefish
fishing for blues
10
: blue cheese
11
physics : one of the three colors (see color entry 1 sense 15) that quarks have in the theory of quantum chromodynamics
One cannot have a single quark on its own because it would have a color (red, green, or blue). Instead, a red quark has to be joined to a green and a blue quark by a "string" of gluons (red + green + blue = white). Such a triplet constitutes a proton or a neutron. Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawkingblue
3 of 3verb
blued; blueing or bluing; blues
transitive verb
: to make (something) blue in color: such as
a
: to dye, tint, or paint (something) blue
Last, the generation of the grandmothers, in immaculately blued hair … John Updike
John UpdikeTattoos blued his upper arms. Jerry Spinelli
Jerry Spinelli b
: to heat (iron or steel) to about 550 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit so that it acquires a protective bluish coating
the blued barrel of the gun
Between banks shrouded with snow, the river gleamed darkly, like blued steel with gold chips of sunlight dancing on each riffle. Pete Bodo
Pete Bodointransitive verb
: to turn blue
their blueing fingers
Phrases
blue in the face : extremely exasperated
argued until he was blue in the face
: without advance notice : unexpectedly
the job offer came out of the blue
informal
: to curse angrily
He sliced the air with his fists and blued the air with his mouth. Steve Kelley
Steve KelleyI have been stealing my father's copy (of Massachusetts Wildlife) for a long time, but last week he found an issue on my desk and blued the air a bit. Stephen King Donovan
Stephen King Donovan
Synonyms
Adjective
- bawdy
- coarse
- crude
- dirty
- filthy
- foul
- gross
- gutter
- impure
- indecent
- lascivious
- lewd
- locker-room
- nasty
- obscene
- pornographic
- porny
- profane
- raunchy
- ribald
- smutty
- stag
- trashy
- unprintable
- vulgar
- wanton
- X-rated
Noun
- firmament
- heaven(s)
- high
- sky
- welkin
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective was shocked at the blue banter on that satellite-radio talk show a cold, dreary day always leaves me blue Noun Her favorite color is blue. a mixture of blues and greens They sailed off into the blue.
Recent Examples on the Web Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Democrats are again trying to use that to their advantage — especially in more traditionally blue states — while Republicans view the race as a referendum on the sitting president, Joe Biden, and his agenda. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2022 Unlike many blue states, Massachusetts has resisted the temptation to raise taxes on high earners. Jim Stergios, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 From the beginning of September to early February, Houston Texans fans wear their red and blue apparel to NRG stadium, where cooler temperatures allow for a fun tailgating experience and a high-energy game. Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 9 Sep. 2022 In districts that stayed remote longer, largely in blue states, students fared worse; so did students of color and those from lower-income families across the board. New York Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Hensley also described the uphill battle parents endured to see their children reenter the classroom in blue states. Taylor Penley, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 In recent primaries in other blue states like Maryland and Connecticut, GOP voters have nominated Trump loyalists, hurting the party’s chances of winning against a Democrat in the November general election. Steve Leblanc, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 In recent primaries in other blue states like Maryland and Connecticut, GOP voters have nominated Trump loyalists, hurting the party’s chances of winning against a Democrat in the November general election. Steve Leblanc, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 Future Louisiana coastline after 12 inches of sea level rise, with submerged land mass highlighted in bright blue. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2022 Reimagined in a smokey blue, this trench coat will kick your outfit up a couple of notches—rain or shine. Kelsey Mulvey, ELLE, 20 Aug. 2022 This new car was sensible: a 1993 Honda Accord done up in pale blue. David Treuer, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2022 An 11th-round pick out of Palo Alto High School in 2010, Pederson played his first seven big-league seasons in Dodger blue and is relishing playing on Kershaw’s side again. John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 July 2022 Meet this rechargeable electric toothbrush in lunar blue. Elizabeth Djinis, SELF, 11 July 2022 Both the monitor and the headphones have a band that lights up in blue. Shannon Liao, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 The box is also simpler, covered mostly in a dark blue with just one spoonful of the brand's macaroni and cheese on the front. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 22 June 2022 Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2022 The home uniforms, which FAU wore versus the 49ers, have blue as the dominant color once again. Khobi Price, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Oct. 2020 To ensure that John Cornyn, Chip Roy and the rest of the Texas Republicans stop putting us in danger, voter blue up and down the ballot in November. Taylor Goldenstein, ExpressNews.com, 26 Aug. 2020 There are signs that Texas, due to changing demographics, may be the next Electoral College giant to turn from red, if not to blue, then at least to purple. John A. Farrell, The New Republic, 16 Apr. 2020 So why won't blue shampoo cut it for keeping cool brunettes cool? Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, 23 Jan. 2020 Ruscillo has studied the production of the ancient purple dye, including experimenting with it to make colors from pink to blue to almost black, though she isn't involved in the excavations on Chrysi. Fox News, 12 Dec. 2019 The pair were all smiles for the appearance at St. James’s Palace, where Kate blue a royal blue Issa dress that matched her sapphire engagement ring, which once belonged to William’s mother Princess Diana. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2019 Give classic orange and blue a dose of edge with abstract prints and a hit of dark à la Samantha Angelo. Laurel Benedum, ELLE Decor, 4 June 2019 See More
Adjective
Democrats are poised to flip Maryland and Massachusetts after Republicans nominated Trump loyalists in those blue states. Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Democrats are again trying to use that to their advantage — especially in more traditionally blue states — while Republicans view the race as a referendum on the sitting president, Joe Biden, and his agenda. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2022 Unlike many blue states, Massachusetts has resisted the temptation to raise taxes on high earners. Jim Stergios, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 From the beginning of September to early February, Houston Texans fans wear their red and blue apparel to NRG stadium, where cooler temperatures allow for a fun tailgating experience and a high-energy game. Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 9 Sep. 2022 In districts that stayed remote longer, largely in blue states, students fared worse; so did students of color and those from lower-income families across the board. New York Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Hensley also described the uphill battle parents endured to see their children reenter the classroom in blue states. Taylor Penley, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 In recent primaries in other blue states like Maryland and Connecticut, GOP voters have nominated Trump loyalists, hurting the party’s chances of winning against a Democrat in the November general election. Steve Leblanc, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 In recent primaries in other blue states like Maryland and Connecticut, GOP voters have nominated Trump loyalists, hurting the party’s chances of winning against a Democrat in the November general election. Steve Leblanc, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Noun
Washed 3/4-Sleeve Jersey T-Shirt, in blue, is $44.99. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 Future Louisiana coastline after 12 inches of sea level rise, with submerged land mass highlighted in bright blue. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2022 Reimagined in a smokey blue, this trench coat will kick your outfit up a couple of notches—rain or shine. Kelsey Mulvey, ELLE, 20 Aug. 2022 This new car was sensible: a 1993 Honda Accord done up in pale blue. David Treuer, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2022 An 11th-round pick out of Palo Alto High School in 2010, Pederson played his first seven big-league seasons in Dodger blue and is relishing playing on Kershaw’s side again. John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 July 2022 Meet this rechargeable electric toothbrush in lunar blue. Elizabeth Djinis, SELF, 11 July 2022 Both the monitor and the headphones have a band that lights up in blue. Shannon Liao, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 The box is also simpler, covered mostly in a dark blue with just one spoonful of the brand's macaroni and cheese on the front. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 22 June 2022 Verb
Republicans in Virginia’s 10th, 7th and 2nd districts — all seats targeted by the national GOP — are seeking to unseat the three Democratic congresswomen who flipped their districts to blue in 2018 with major help from suburban voters. Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2022 The home uniforms, which FAU wore versus the 49ers, have blue as the dominant color once again. Khobi Price, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Oct. 2020 To ensure that John Cornyn, Chip Roy and the rest of the Texas Republicans stop putting us in danger, voter blue up and down the ballot in November. Taylor Goldenstein, ExpressNews.com, 26 Aug. 2020 There are signs that Texas, due to changing demographics, may be the next Electoral College giant to turn from red, if not to blue, then at least to purple. John A. Farrell, The New Republic, 16 Apr. 2020 So why won't blue shampoo cut it for keeping cool brunettes cool? Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, 23 Jan. 2020 Ruscillo has studied the production of the ancient purple dye, including experimenting with it to make colors from pink to blue to almost black, though she isn't involved in the excavations on Chrysi. Fox News, 12 Dec. 2019 The pair were all smiles for the appearance at St. James’s Palace, where Kate blue a royal blue Issa dress that matched her sapphire engagement ring, which once belonged to William’s mother Princess Diana. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2019 Give classic orange and blue a dose of edge with abstract prints and a hit of dark à la Samantha Angelo. Laurel Benedum, ELLE Decor, 4 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Noun, and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French blef, blew, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German blāo blue; akin to Latin flavus yellow
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1606, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing blue
Kids Definition
blue 1 of 2
noun
ˈblü
1
: the color of the clear daytime sky
2
: blue clothing or cloth
3
: sky sense 1
4
: sea sense 1
blue
2 of 2adjective
bluer; bluest
1
: of the color of the sky : of the color blue
blue ink
2
: sad sense 1
Why are you so blue?
Medical Definition
blue 1 of 2
adjective
ˈblü
bluer; bluest
: of the color blue
blue
2 of 2noun
1
: a color whose hue is that of the clear sky or that of the portion of the color spectrum lying between green and violet
2
: a pigment or dye that colors blue see prussian blue
blue 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in pornographic
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society was shocked at the blue banter on that satellite-radio talk show Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pornographic
- obscene
- vulgar
- dirty
- nasty
- foul
- filthy
- suggestive
- gross
- naughty
- coarse
- gutter
- obnoxious
- stag
- crude
- offensive
- trashy
- unacceptable
- unwanted
- smutty
- impure
- disgusting
- unprintable
- raunchy
- bawdy
- unpleasant
- profane
- lascivious
- soft
- broad
- undesirable
- ribald
- off
- indecent
- abusive
- lewd
- infamous
- wanton
- salty
- porny
- off-colored
- low
- X-rated
- locker-room
- wicked
- earthy
- risqué
- off-color
- kinky
- barnyard
- salacious
- perverted
- scatological
- racy
- unwelcome
- loathsome
- coarse-grained
- repulsive
- unbecoming
- louche
- repellent
- revolting
- gamy
- depraved
- objectionable
- immodest
- indecorous
- indelicate
- repugnant
- abhorrent
- exceptionable
- perverse
- gamey
- distasteful
- atrocious
- scurrilous
- repellant
- reprehensible
- blameworthy
- debasing
- censurable
- blamable
- hard-core
- soft-core
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clean
- decent
- wholesome
- proper
- nice
- correct
- staid
- puritanical
- prim
- innocuous
- appropriate
- polite
- pure
- nonobscene
- respectable
- straitlaced
- prudish
- priggish
- genteel
- suitable
- seemly
- decorous
- acceptable
- welcome
- pleasant
- desirable
- becoming
- perfect
- inoffensive
- straightlaced
- agreeable
- meet
- spotless
- fit
- pleasing
- Victorian
- G-rated
- immaculate
- virginal
- endorsed
- approved
- sanctioned
- indorsed
2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness a cold, dreary day always leaves me blue Synonyms & Similar Words
- depressed
- sad
- unhappy
- heartbroken
- miserable
- melancholy
- bad
- sorry
- upset
- worried
- mournful
- down
- disappointed
- sorrowful
- gloomy
- cast down
- dejected
- hopeless
- melancholic
- troubled
- uneasy
- disconsolate
- crestfallen
- downcast
- droopy
- glum
- woebegone
- distressed
- forlorn
- joyless
- downhearted
- doleful
- inconsolable
- depressing
- suicidal
- heartsick
- wretched
- low
- despondent
- hangdog
- saddened
- woeful
- brokenhearted
- gray
- heavyhearted
- low-spirited
- black
- heartsore
- down in the mouth
- discouraged
- sunk
- grieving
- aggrieved
- weeping
- tearful
- despairing
- grey
- dark
- somber
- unquiet
- bleak
- dispirited
- darkening
- desolate
- lachrymose
- dolorous
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- wailing
- sullen
- disheartened
- anguished
- morose
- regretful
- morbid
- cheerless
- agonized
- elegiac
- murky
- saturnine
- dreary
- dismal
- rueful
- funereal
- drear
- sombre
- comfortless
- elegiacal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheerful
- cheery
- sunny
- happy
- joyous
- buoyant
- joyful
- jubilant
- exuberant
- blissful
- glad
- jolly
- merry
- gleeful
- upbeat
- ecstatic
- rosy
- chipper
- rapturous
- euphoric
- jovial
- delighted
- blithesome
- exultant
- rhapsodic
- rhapsodical
- buoyed
- blithe
- enraptured
- excited
- jocular
- sanguine
- elated
- mirthful
- optimistic
- overjoyed
- jocose
- lightsome
- jocund
- hopeful
- entranced
- exhilarated
- energetic
- animated
- perky
- smiling
- bouncing
- spirited
- gladdened
- jaunty
- vivacious
- gladsome
- peppy
- content
- lively
- thrilled
- zippy
- springy
- frisky
- vital
- sprightly
- laughing
- satisfied
- encouraged
- beaming
- cavalier
- grinning
- carefree
- careless
- pleased
- easygoing
- unconcerned
- lighthearted
- gratified
- insouciant
- boon
- sprightful
- heartened
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care
3
as in spicy
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent a lighthearted comedy with a few moments of blue humor Synonyms & Similar Words
- spicy
- suggestive
- off
- salty
- off-colored
- naughty
- off-color
- risqué
- vulgar
- bawdy
- ribald
- coarse
- warm
- lewd
- racy
- nasty
- gamy
- dirty
- pornographic
- crude
- filthy
- leering
- obscene
- foul
- gamey
- earthy
- stag
- gutter
- barnyard
- gross
- smutty
- unprintable
- coarse-grained
- raunchy
- lascivious
- indecent
- unpublishable
- prurient
- immodest
- porny
- indecorous
- indelicate
- X-rated
- locker-room
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clean
- decent
- innocuous
- nonobscene
- inoffensive
- staid
- nice
- puritanical
- prim
- proper
- correct
- straightlaced
- straitlaced
- polite
- prudish
- G-rated
- priggish
- respectable
- genteel
- seemly
- decorous
- Victorian
4
as in intellectual
much given to learning and thinking a book club that had been founded many years earlier by the blue, progressive women of the city Synonyms & Similar Words
- intellectual
- cerebral
- longhair
- nerdy
- geeky
- cultured
- highbrowed
- highbrow
- academic
- intellectualistic
- scholarly
- intellectualist
- nerdish
- intelligent
- literate
- long-haired
- eggheaded
- educated
- brilliant
- cultivated
- bright
- smart
- academical
- clever
- middlebrow
- learned
- professorial
- bookish
- erudite
- schooled
- snooty
- didactic
- polymath
- snobby
- snobbish
- brainy
- pedantic
- hyperintellectual
- polyhistoric
- polymathic
- well-read
- high-toned
- high-hat
- quick-witted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lowbrow
- stupid
- dumb
- ignorant
- nonintellectual
- uncultivated
- uneducated
- unread
- uncultured
- slow
- illiterate
- idiotic
- philistine
- foolish
- anti-intellectual
- moronic
- unintelligent
- idiotical
- benighted
- unlettered
- unenlightened
blue
2 of 2noun
1
as in sky
the expanse of air surrounding the earth the plane flew off into the blue and was never seen again Synonyms & Similar Words
- sky
- welkin
- high
- heaven(s)
- firmament
- skyline
- midair
- horizon
2
as in sea
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth pirate ships that sailed the vasty blue in search of treasure Synonyms & Similar Words
- sea
- ocean
- waters
- deep
- brine
- seven seas
- blue water
- Neptune
- high seas
- basin
- main
- depths
- Davy Jones's locker
Phrases Containing blue
- mean line
- mean midnight
- mean moon
- mean no offense
- mean noon
- mean nothing to
- mean nothing to (someone)
- mean nothing to someone
- mean obliquity
- mean place
- mean proportional
- mean reserve
- mean sea level
- mean solar day
- mean something to
- barbareas
- Barbaresco
- barbaresque
- barbarian
- barbarianism
- barbarianisms
- barbarians
- barbaric
- barbarically
- barbaries