# blinks

/ˈbɫɪŋks/ (US) · /blˈɪŋks/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blinks
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The bright sunlight makes her blink as she steps outside.
- The cat sits on the fence and blinks slowly at me to show that it feels safe.
- The witness blinks nervously under the harsh courtroom lights, struggling to maintain composure while the lawyer continues the intense cross-examination.

## Usage notes

- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.