# blurry

/ˈbɫɝi/ (US) · /blˈɜːɹi/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blurry
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

not clear or sharp to look at. You use this when you cannot see the edges or details of an image or object clearly.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The image was blur." but "The image was blurry." — Learners often use the noun 'blur' where the adjective 'blurry' is required to describe a state or quality.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'look', 'become', or 'be'.

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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.