blot out

verb

blotted out; blotting out; blots out

transitive verb

1
: to make obscure, insignificant, or inconsequential
2

Examples of blot out in a Sentence

blotted out all evidence of tampering with the explosive device bushes blotted out the shed from our view
Recent Examples on the Web Much as the eye might want to blot out the offending image, Photoshop it out of existence and daub more verdancy onto this screen-saver panorama, the reality of human habitation, and its concomitant messiness, must be reckoned. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 Allowing a little more darkness also reduces urban light pollution, which blots out the stars, and can be harmful for species beyond just birds. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023 The rigid linearity and dynamic transparency of the house are countered by the lush backyard, which includes a sweep of lawn backed by fluttering clouds of mature trees and dense vegetation that blots out neighboring homes. Mark David, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2023 The city’s residents are used to a blanket of smog that blots out the sky and heralds the arrival of the Hindu festival of Diwali. Vibhuti Agarwal, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2023 Tsunamis washed away coastlines, raging fires engulfed forests and dust and debris blotted out the sun for months. Jack Tamisiea, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023 Then, in the fifth grade, a new unit of measurement blotted out my previous fixations: the Numerical Rating Scale. Olivia Treynor, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2023 The sun turned blood-red or was all but blotted out, disappearing along with the city skyline; the sky turned gray, or sepia, or eerily tangerine, and ash floated down like snow. Brooke Jarvis, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023 The moon will briefly blot out much of the sun on Saturday morning as seen from San Diego County as the region experiences a rare and beautiful partial solar eclipse. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blot out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blot out was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near blot out

Cite this Entry

“Blot out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blot%20out. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blot out

verb
1
: to make unimportant
2
: to make hard to see or invisible : hide
3
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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