blur

1 of 2

noun

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 sensesW. 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 adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When anyone can build an identity, the line between authentic expression and constructed personas blurs. Gerui Wang, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 The roar of engines, the blur of cars speeding by, the palpable tension in the air — these are the hallmarks of motorsport that have captivated audiences for decades. Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
While the script is blurred, there are circles and notes indicating edits. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 18 Nov. 2024 This also includes setting boundaries so that the lines are not blurred between work and your personal life. Rachel Wells, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for blur 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of blur was in 1519

Dictionary Entries Near blur

Cite this Entry

“Blur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blur. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

blur

1 of 2 noun
1
: a smear or stain that dims but does not completely cover
2
: something vague or lacking definite outline
blurry
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

More from Merriam-Webster on blur

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!