Blank Meaning
/ˈblæŋk/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjWhite or pale; without colour.
adjFree from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in.
Sentence Examples
My memory is blank on the subject.
The kid looks blank.
Sign your name in the blank space below.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
During the test, my mind went ____ and I forgot every answer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please fill in the ____ with the correct word from the list below.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"To the blanc Moone / Her office they preſcrib'd,"
— 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 656–657:
"Referee Michael Oliver failed to detect a foul in a crowded box and the Canaries escaped down the tunnel with the scoreline still blank."
— 2011 December 27, Mike Henson, “Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
"Adam […] Aſtonied ſtood and Blank,"
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 888–890:
"Whosoeuer brought a fagot before the kynges tent, he shulde haue a blanke of Fraunce."
— 1523, Jean Froissart, transl. by John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Cronycles of Englande, Fraunce etc.:
"Des. […] And stood within the blank of his displeasure / For my free speech! (Act III, scene 11)"
— 1603, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
During the test, my mind went ____ and I forgot every answer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please fill in the ____ with the correct word from the list below.