Word
blurry
Phoneticsblur·ry, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫɝi/
UK/blˈɜːɹi/
Definition
adj. not clear or sharp to look at. You use this when you cannot see the edges or details of an image or object clearly.
adj. lacking a sharp or clear outline; indistinct in appearance. Often describes visual stimuli that are out of focus or smeared.
Examples
“The photo is blurry because I moved the camera.”
“Without his glasses, the text on the screen appeared blurry and difficult to read.”
“The artist used a series of blurry brushstrokes to convey a sense of rapid motion, intentionally obscuring the fine details of the subject's face.”
Examples
simple
“The photo is blurry because I moved the camera.”
contextual
“Without his glasses, the text on the screen appeared blurry and difficult to read.”
complex
“The artist used a series of blurry brushstrokes to convey a sense of rapid motion, intentionally obscuring the fine details of the subject's face.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'look', 'become', or 'be'.
Pitfall
The image was blur.
The image was blurry.
Learners often use the noun 'blur' where the adjective 'blurry' is required to describe a state or quality.
Etymology
From blur + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/blurry