# blitz

/ˈbɫɪts/ (US) · /blˈɪts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blitz
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. intensive effort

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a sudden and very fast effort to finish a task or improve a situation.

For teachers: a concentrated, intensive period of work or activity intended to achieve a specific goal rapidly.

- The office had a cleaning blitz on Friday to get ready for the visitors.
- The marketing department launched a media blitz to ensure the product was visible across all social platforms before the holiday weekend.

Usage: Often used with 'on' to indicate the target of the effort.

### 2. historical air raids

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a sudden and violent attack from the air, especially the one on the UK in 1940.

For teachers: an intensive aerial bombing campaign; specifically used as 'the Blitz' to refer to the German attacks on British cities during World War II.

- Many people had to hide in underground stations during the Blitz.
- Historians have documented how the Blitz reshaped urban planning in London after the destruction of entire residential blocks.

### 3. to do something quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

to complete a task or a piece of work very quickly.

For teachers: to complete a task or process with great speed and intensity, often in a single session.

- I managed to blitz through my homework in just half an hour.
- If we blitz the remaining paperwork this afternoon, we can leave the office early for the weekend.

### 4. to blend food

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to mix or chop food very quickly using an electric machine.

For teachers: to process, purée, or liquidise food ingredients using a high-speed blender or food processor.

- Blitz the soup for a few seconds until it is completely smooth.
- The recipe suggests you blitz the roasted peppers with garlic and olive oil to create a vibrant sauce for the pasta.

### 5. American football tactic

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

a move in American football where extra players run toward the other team's passer.

For teachers: a defensive tactic in American football where additional players beyond the defensive line rush the quarterback.

- The defense used a blitz to stop the quarterback from throwing the ball.
- The coach called for an all-out blitz on the final play, successfully forcing a fumble and securing the victory.

## Examples

- We had a cleaning blitz before the guests arrived.
- The marketing team planned a two-day media blitz to ensure the product launch reached as many people as possible.
- Faced with a looming deadline, the developers engaged in a weekend coding blitz to resolve the remaining bugs before the final software release.

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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.