1
: a smear or stain that obscures
2
: something vaguely or indistinctly perceived
The words are just a blur without his glasses.
The whole weekend is a blur to me.
especially
: something moving or occurring too quickly to be clearly seen
passed by in a blur of motion
blurred; blurring
1
: to obscure or blemish by smearing
windows blurred by fingerprints
2
: sully
… an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty.—
Shakespeare
Shakespeare3
: to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character
His vision was blurred.
digitally blur the edges of photographs
blurring the line between fact and fiction
4
: to make cloudy or confused
time had begun to blur her senses—W. A. White
W. A. White1
a
: to make blurs
… the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen …—R. P. Warren
R. P. Warren
b
: move too quickly to be seen clearly
… it's like the … ride of a traveling carnival, with eerie lights and sharp turns on the rails and the odd unsettling image that blurs past you.—Adrian McKinty
Adrian McKinty2
: to become vague or indistinct
distinctions between the two are beginning to blur
Examples of blur in a Sentence
Verb
The tears in my eyes blurred the words on the page.
His novel is based on historical occurrences but it blurs the line between fact and fiction.
The two events have blurred together in my mind.
Recent Examples on the Web
Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
The camera app can also access Windows Studio Effects, including auto framing and background blur.
—PCMAG, 22 Feb. 2025
Andrey Fadeev, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Filters have a more dramatic effect on images than Film Sims, with options that include a miniature effect that blurs part of the scene to simulate a photograph of a diorama, a low-fi toy camera filter, high and low-key exposure looks, and others.
—PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blur
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Noun
Listen to this article GAINESVILLE — The sight of Florida receiver Tre Wilson on the field is a blur again.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025
The camera app can also access Windows Studio Effects, including auto framing and background blur.
—PCMAG, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
From music tailored to your mood to movies created by AI, the line between human and machine creativity is blurring.
—Andrey Fadeev, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Filters have a more dramatic effect on images than Film Sims, with options that include a miniature effect that blurs part of the scene to simulate a photograph of a diorama, a low-fi toy camera filter, high and low-key exposure looks, and others.
—PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blur
Cite this Entry
“Blur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blur. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blur
1 of 2 noun1
: a smear or stain that dims but does not completely cover
2
: something vague or lacking definite outline
blurry
adjective
-ē
blur
2 of 2 verb
blurred; blurring
1
: to make hard to see or read by smearing
2
: to make or become vague or unclear
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