blank

/blæŋk/

/blæŋk/

Other forms: blanks; blanked; blankest; blanker; blanking

Something that's blank is empty or undecorated. A blank canvas hasn't been drawn or painted on yet — it's clean and unmarked.

A blank computer screen has no information on it, and a blank look on someone's face is completely free of any expression, revealing nothing. If your mind goes blank during a job interview, you are left without any thoughts for a moment. When blank is a noun, it means "a line to be filled in" or "an empty space." In the 1500s, a blank was the empty, white center of a target, from the French word blanc, or "white."

Definitions of blank

1. adjective

   (of a surface) not written or printed on
   “blank pages”

   “fill in the blank spaces”

   synonyms: clean, white

   empty

   holding or containing nothing
2. noun

   a blank gap or missing part
   synonyms: lacuna

   type of:

   crack, gap

   a narrow opening
3. noun

   a blank character used to separate successive words in writing or printing
   synonyms: space

   type of:

   character, grapheme, graphic symbol

   a written symbol that is used to represent speech
4. noun

   a piece of material ready to be made into something
   type of:

   flat solid, sheet

   a flat artifact that is thin relative to its length and width
5. adjective

   void of expression
   “a blank stare”

   synonyms: vacuous

   incommunicative, uncommunicative

   not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions
6. noun

   a cartridge containing an explosive charge but no bullet
   synonyms: blank shell, dummy

   type of:

   cartridge

   ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
7. adjective

   not charged with a bullet
   “a blank cartridge”

   synonyms:

   unloaded

   (of weapons) not charged with ammunition
8. verb

   keep the opposing (baseball) team from winning
   type of:

   keep, prevent

   stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state