Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

blink

/ˈblɪŋk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.73 in modern English

Syllables
blink
IPA
/ˈblɪŋk/
11
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb

verb

To close and reopen both eyes quickly.

Intransitive verb; Obsolete

verb

To flash on and off at regular intervals.

verb

To flash on and off at regular intervals.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English blynken, blenken, from Old English *blincan (suggested by causative verb blenċan (“to deceive”); > English blench), from Proto-Germanic *blinkaną, a variant of *blīkaną (“to gleam, shine”). Cognate with Dutch blinken (“to glitter, shine”), German blinken (“to flash, blink”), Danish blinke (“to flash, twinkle, wink, blink”), Swedish blinka (“to flash, blink, twinkle, wink, blink”). Related to blank, blick, blike, bleak.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: blynken, *blincan, *blinkaną

Usage

Inflected Forms

blinks (present, singular) blinking (participle, present) blinked (participle, past) blinked (past) blinks (plural)

Derived Forms

blinkle eyeblink interblink landblink moonblink snowblink sunblink

Phrases

before one can blink blink-and-you-miss-it blink first without blinking an eye without blinking an eyelash without blinking an eyelid attentional blink blink comparator

Frequently Paired Words

ablink blinkard blinker blink-eyed blinkie blinkless blink of an eye on the blink

Synonyms

nictitate eye blink blinking wink winking nictitation nictation nictate

Rhymes With

think link drink inc pink sink ink sync shrink zinc brink wink

Questions

How do you pronounce blink?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈblɪŋk/.
What does blink mean?
To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
Where does blink come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce blink

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “blink”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈblɪŋk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “blink”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “blink” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.