blur

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'blur' is a commonly used word in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to become unclear, or as a noun meaning an unclear shape or image. Example sentence: The details of the scene were beginning to blur as the sun set.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Film

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the catwalk he has done more to blur the boundaries than any other designer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

While it's important to not blur black experience with white until you get a "we're all the same underneath" monoculture, this shows how non-whites are still ghettoised in the minds of the Academy.

The Guardian - Film

The divorced father of two teenagers said the ensuing hours had been a blur.

The Guardian

The gloom hits you from the very first sentence: "One grim winter evening, when it had a kind of un-realness about London, with a fog sleeping restlessly over the city and the lights showing in the blur as if not London at all but some strange place on another planet..."....

The Guardian - Books

As the bridge collapses and outside forces invade it, so the narrative starts to blur, different worlds impinge on each other, different voices speak.

The Guardian - Books

Very often, film-makers and readers reiterate the point that "it's a fictional movie, not a documentary" – though frankly some films deliberately blur the line, such as Paul Greengrass's United 93 (2006) or Oliver Stone's JFK (1991), both of which use the documentary style to present heavily fictionalised – and heavily politicised – historical cases.

The Guardian - Film

Philipp Lahm was a blur of energy down the right, a permanent outlet for team-mates to spread the play.

The Guardian - Sport

It's just a blur of missed front ends, Memphis turnovers and Kansas conversions.

The Guardian - Sport

I cannot remember much of the fortnight following his death except a blur of family, funeral, and being found by the night porter completely hysterical and key-less at half one.

The Guardian

The characters are ciphers, and Von Trier veers wildly between the visual beauty of his early films and the digital blur of his recent work, while Handel blasts majestically on the soundtrack.

The Guardian - Film

In a blur of expensive suits, mirrored sunglasses and blacked out luxury cars, Asil Nadir, the 69-year-old fugitive Polly Peck millionaire, today returned to the UK for the first time since he fled British justice 17 years ago, accused of a £34m fraud.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "blur" to describe a situation, consider the specific nuance you want to convey: is it about making something indistinct, obscuring boundaries, or causing confusion? Choose the usage that best fits the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "blur" in a passive construction when the active voice would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The lines were blurred by the new policy", try "The new policy blurred the lines".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "blur" is as both a verb, denoting the action of making something indistinct, and a noun, referring to an indistinct image or state. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility in various sentence structures, as demonstrated in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Sport

14%

Books

12%

Less common in

Film

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blur" is a versatile word functioning as both a verb and a noun, primarily used to describe a lack of clarity or definition. As Ludwig AI clarifies, its grammatical status is correct, and its frequency is very common. The analysis reveals that "blur" appears frequently in news, sports, and book contexts, suggesting a broad applicability across various domains. Top sources include The Guardian and The Economist. When writing, be mindful of the specific nuance you wish to convey—whether it's making something indistinct, obscuring boundaries, or causing confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obscure

Focuses on making something unclear or difficult to perceive.

fade

Emphasizes a gradual loss of distinctness or clarity.

smudge

Suggests a blurring caused by spreading or smearing something.

cloud

Implies a lack of clarity due to something covering or obscuring.

muddle

Highlights a state of confusion or disorder.

blear

Indicates a dimming or watering of the eyes, causing blurred vision.

soften

Refers to making edges or details less sharp or defined.

distort

Indicates an alteration in the true shape or form, leading to a blurred perception.

haze

Implies a state of being partly obscured by atmospheric dust, smoke, or vapor.

mask

Suggests covering or concealing something to make it less visible or clear.

FAQs

How can I use "blur" as a verb in a sentence?

As a verb, "blur" means to make something indistinct or hazy. For example, "Tears can "blur" your vision" or "The artist used soft brushstrokes to "blur" the edges of the landscape".

What are some nouns similar in meaning to "blur"?

Similar nouns include "smudge", "haze", or "indistinctness". For instance, you might say "The photograph had a slight "smudge"" or "The city was shrouded in a "haze"".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "blur"?

"Blur" can be used in various contexts, from describing visual effects to abstract concepts. For example, "The lines between reality and illusion began to "blur"" or "The runner was a "blur" of motion".

What's the difference between "blur" and "obscure"?

"Blur" suggests a lack of clear definition or focus, while "obscure" implies something is hidden or not easily understood. One might say "The details "blur" in the distance", but "The politician tried to "obscure" the truth".