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
blurred; blurring
1
: to obscure or blemish by smearing
windows blurred by fingerprints
2
: sully
… an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty.—
Shakespeare
Shakespeare3
: 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
W. A. White1
a
: to make blurs
… the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen …—R. P. Warren
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
Adrian McKinty2
: to become vague or indistinct
distinctions between the two are beginning to blur
Synonyms
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
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
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 
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
Dictionary Entries Near blur
Cite this Entry
“Blur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blur. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blur
1 of 2 noun1
: a smear or stain that dims but does not completely cover
2
: something vague or lacking definite outline
blurry
adjective
-ē
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share