Phrase guide

blank out

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become blank.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • He removed the paper from the heat, and the paper blanked out.
  • The screen blanked out during the power cut.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become blank.

To temporarily lose memory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • He blanked out five minutes into the meeting.
  • I'm blanking out on your name, I'm afraid.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cause (something) to become blank.

To erase (something), leaving a blank in its place.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The teacher blanked out some words from the text, which the students had to fill in.
  • They had to blank out five obscenities before airing the song.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cause (something) to become blank.

To erase from one's memory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He blanked out the abuse he had suffered as a child.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To get even; to neutralise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Beckham's second-half goal blanked out Filippi's first-half header to put the score at 1-1.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

cut out, as for political reasons

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • several line in the report were blanked out

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: edit, redact

7

verb

Meaning 7

be unable to remember

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I'm drawing a blank
  • You are blocking the name of your first wife!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: forget, block, draw a blank

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: slip, slip one's mind

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.