Word
blinding
Phoneticsblind·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫaɪndɪŋ/
UK/blˈaɪndɪŋ/
Definition
adj. extremely bright, or used to describe something that is excellent or very impressive. You might use it to talk about a light that hurts your eyes or a great performance.
adj. causing temporary or permanent loss of vision due to intense light; also used as an intensifier meaning exceptionally good or impressive. Often used in British English to describe a high-quality performance or event.
Examples
“The sun was blinding as we drove west.”
“The band played a blinding set at the festival, leaving the crowd cheering for three encores.”
“The snow reflected a blinding glare that made navigation nearly impossible without specialized eyewear, yet the view from the summit was absolutely spectacular.”
Examples
simple
“The sun was blinding as we drove west.”
contextual
“The band played a blinding set at the festival, leaving the crowd cheering for three encores.”
complex
“The snow reflected a blinding glare that made navigation nearly impossible without specialized eyewear, yet the view from the summit was absolutely spectacular.”
Usage
Commonly used as a participial adjective; in its slang sense, it is primarily found in British English.
Real-World Examples
“This land of wide open spaces, ancient churches and castles, and vast sunflower fields, all baking under the blinding August Sun, seemed like the perfect location to enter the path of totality.” “The tension was visible even then—drivers wanted more forward light as speeds rose, while everyone else wanted fewer blinding lights from oncoming traffic.” “Forty-five minutes later, they drank either alcohol or a placebo beverage designed to provide similar sensory cues and help maintain blinding.” Etymology
By surface analysis, blind + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/blinding