Word
blankly
US/ˈbɫæŋkɫi/
UK/blˈæŋkli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. with an empty face that shows no feeling or understanding. You use it when someone looks or stares without any reaction.
adv. in a manner showing no expression, interest, or comprehension, as in a vacant stare. Typically collocates with verbs of looking or responding, such as 'stare', 'gaze', or 'look'.
Examples
“She stares blankly at the screen.”
“When the teacher asks a difficult question, the students stare blankly at their desks.”
“He listens blankly as the news unfolds, his face giving no sign of whether he understands or cares.”
Examples
simple
“She stares blankly at the screen.”
contextual
“When the teacher asks a difficult question, the students stare blankly at their desks.”
complex
“He listens blankly as the news unfolds, his face giving no sign of whether he understands or cares.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “blankly” in context.
Verb
01. ask blankly
“"What do you mean?" he asked blankly.”
verb + adverb
02. blink blankly
“She blinked blankly for a moment, trying to understand the news.”
verb + adverb
03. gaze blankly
“He gazed blankly out of the train window for an hour.”
verb + adverb
04. look blankly
“He looked blankly at me when I asked for his address.”
verb + adverb
05. stare blankly
“She stared blankly at the test paper, unable to answer a question.”
verb + adverb
06. blink blankly in confusion
“She blinked blankly in confusion at the complicated instructions.”
07. gaze blankly ahead
“He gazed blankly ahead while the teacher explained the lesson.”
08. look blankly at someone
“She looked blankly at me, as if she had never seen me before.”
09. stare blankly into space
“He stared blankly into space after hearing the bad news.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies, especially verbs of looking or speaking.
Real-World Examples
“Lying on a small bed next to her mother, 14-month-old Aisha Usman stares blankly, her eyes sunk in their sockets and rib cage visible.” “Jeanine Durning stands rigid, staring blankly, fingers twitching at her sides.” Synonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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