blur
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to make something difficult to see clearly, or to become fuzzy and out of focus.
v.to make or become indistinct, hazy, or lacking in sharp outlines. Often used both transitively and intransitively.
Simple“The heavy rain started to blur the driver's view of the road ahead.”
In context“The tears in her eyes began to blur the printed words on the page until the entire letter became unreadable.”
UsageCan be used for physical sight or abstract ideas like memories.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make the difference between two things less clear.
v.to make the boundaries between two different concepts or categories less distinct.
Simple“Modern technology often blurs the line between work life and home life.”
In context“The new legislation effectively blurs the distinction between private contractors and full-time employees, creating significant confusion for tax purposes.”
UsageFrequently used with 'the lines' or 'the boundaries'.
Antonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.something that you cannot see clearly because it is moving fast or is out of focus.
n.a shape or area that is seen unclearly, typically due to rapid motion or optical deficiency.
Simple“The speeding car was just a silver blur as it passed us on the highway.”
In context“Without his glasses, the faces of the people in the front row were nothing more than a beige blur to the speaker.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.feeling confused or not knowing what is happening around you.
adj.describing a state of being confused, slow to understand, or lacking situational awareness.
Simple“I was so blur this morning that I tried to open my house door with my car keys.”
In context“He is always so blur during the morning briefings that we have to explain the tasks to him twice.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is specific to Colloquial Singaporean English (Singlish) and Malaysian English; it is not used in standard British or American English.
Usage boundary blur
From earlier blurre, probably an alteration of blear, from Middle English bleren, from Old English blerian (attested in āblered (“made bare, made bald”)), from Proto-West Germanic blaʀjan, from Proto-Germanic blazjaną (“to make pale”), from Proto-Germanic blasaz (“pale”). Compare Scots blore, bloar (“to blur, cover with blots”), Low German bleeroged (“blear-eyed”). More at blear.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.