English Reference

Word

blind

US/ˈbɫaɪnd/

UK/blˈaɪnd/

Definitions

01unable to see

A2

adj. unable to see because of injury, disease, or a condition you were born with.

adj. physically unable to perceive visual stimuli; lacking the sense of sight.

“The blind man used a white cane to navigate the busy street safely.”

“The charity provides essential support services for blind and partially sighted individuals to help them maintain their independence.”

Synonyms

sightlessvisionless

Antonyms

02unaware or ignoring

B1

adj. not noticing or choosing to ignore something that is happening.

adj. lacking awareness, discernment, or the will to acknowledge a specific reality or truth.

“She was blind to his faults because she loved him so much.”

“The administration remained blind to the growing discontent among the staff until the sudden wave of resignations forced a policy change.”

Antonyms

03without evidence or logic

B2

adj. doing something without having any information or without thinking about the risks.

adj. characterised by a lack of prior knowledge, evidence, or critical assessment.

“It was a blind date, so I had no idea what he looked like.”

“The investors showed blind faith in the startup, pouring in millions without conducting any thorough due diligence on the technology.”

Synonyms

unreasoningunquestioning

Antonyms

04window covering

A2

n. a cover for a window that you can pull down to block the light.

n. a functional window covering, typically consisting of slats or a roll of fabric, used to regulate light and privacy.

“I pulled down the blinds to keep the sun out of my eyes while I worked.”

“The office was equipped with automated blinds that adjusted themselves according to the intensity of the afternoon sun.”

05a deception

C1

n. something used to hide the truth or trick someone.

n. a ruse or subterfuge designed to conceal one's true motives or actions.

“The small shop was just a blind for their illegal gambling business.”

“The diplomatic mission was merely a blind, allowing the intelligence officers to operate within the country under the guise of official business.”

Formal

Synonyms

06to make unable to see

B1

v. to make someone unable to see, either for a short time or forever.

v. to deprive of sight, either permanently through injury or temporarily through intense light.

“The bright headlights of the oncoming car blinded me for a second.”

“The sudden flash of the explosion blinded the soldiers momentarily, leaving them disoriented in the darkness.”

Synonyms

07without looking

B2

adv. doing something without being able to see what you are doing.

adv. performing an action without the aid of visual information or prior inspection.

“The pilot had to fly blind through the thick clouds using only his instruments.”

“Forced to navigate the cave system blind after his torch failed, he relied entirely on his sense of touch to find the exit.”

Synonyms

unseeingly

08baking a crust

C1 · Cooking

adv. baking a pastry shell without any filling inside it.

adv. the process of baking a pastry case before adding a filling, often using weights to prevent rising.

“You need to bake the pastry blind for ten minutes before adding the lemon cream.”

“To ensure a crisp base for the tart, the recipe instructs the chef to bake the shortcrust pastry blind using ceramic baking beans.”

Technical

Usage

Usually appears in the phrase 'bake blind'.

Real-World Examples

“Most raves turn a blind eye to drugs.”
The New York Times · 12 Aug 2026
“The blinds line the windows, and the curtains cover the blinds.”
The Guardian · 20 Jul 2026
“In the heat of the day it is best to keep your windows shut and blinds or curtains closed - especially on the side of your home where the sun is shining.”
BBC News · 22 Jun 2026

Etymology

From Middle English blynd, from Old English blind, from Proto-West Germanic blind, from Proto-Germanic blindaz.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

blind spotblind eye

Word family

Idioms

blind date — A date (romantic meeting) between two people who have never met before.

blind leading the blind — A situation in which an unqualified person is attempting to guide, advise, or train others.

blind with science — To overwhelm someone with details in order to influence or mislead them.

fly blind — To do by guesswork; to feel one's way.

I see, said the blind man — Expressing confusion.

turn a blind eye — To deliberately or knowingly ignore, overlook, or refuse to acknowledge something, especially when improper or unpleasant; to look the other way.

Domains

CookingHorticultureMilitary

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference