Phrase guide

block out

verb · 8 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

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1

verb

Meaning 1

to prevent from entering or penetrating.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • High-factor suncream blocks out the sun's rays.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

to prevent (a thought) from entering one's mind.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • After finding out she had terminal cancer, she tried to block out any thoughts of her own mortality.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

to cover something, so as to make it impossible to see.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out roughly; to lay out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to block out a plan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

plan where and when songs should be inserted into a theatrical production, or plan a theatrical production in general

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lay out

6

verb

Meaning 6

indicate roughly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We sketched out our plan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sketch, outline, adumbrate

7

verb

Meaning 7

shield from light

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mask

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cover

8

verb

Meaning 8

prevent from entering

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • block out the strong sunlight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: screen

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: obstruct, obturate, impede, occlude, jam, block, close up

Narrower terms: shade

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.