ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blinks

v. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈbɫɪŋks// UK //blˈɪŋks// blinks

v. to close and open your eyes very quickly. You often do this without thinking to keep your eyes wet or when you are surprised by a bright light.

v. to close and open the eyelids rapidly, either as an involuntary reflex or a deliberate signal. The third-person singular present form of the verb.


SIMPLE

The bright sunlight makes her blink as she steps outside.

CONTEXTUAL

The cat sits on the fence and blinks slowly at me to show that it feels safe.

COMPLEX

The witness blinks nervously under the harsh courtroom lights, struggling to maintain composure while the lawyer continues the intense cross-examination.

Usage

Intransitive when referring to the physical reflex; can be transitive when used to describe clearing one's eyes ('to blink tears away').

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