gray out

USAGE SUMMARY

"gray out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe something that has been dimmed or made less visible, such as a button on a webpage that can no longer be clicked. For example, "Once you have selected the correct option, the other choices will be grayed out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"We say, 'We have a product that blends some of the gray out,' " Ms. Arens said.

The New York Times

I would suggest instead you "gray out" the button that was clicked, to indicate you can't agree (or disagree) twice.

University of California, Berkeley

The planes rocketed through the loops, and the pilots grunted, straining to drive blood to their brains as the force smashed them into their seats at four times the weight of gravity, the pressure so intense that a pilot can pass into a haze from the strain, or "gray out".

The New York Times

The view from his window is gray, out across an old bridge over the Main to a church spire on the other side, and behind the church the high-rises of Frankfurt's little Manhattan (with 15 more skyscrapers planned), and along the river bank the Jewish Museum, everywhere the impression of a shattered history.

The New York Times

This will "gray out" the image making your new copy lines easier to see.

WikiHow

With Gray out, Maryland's offensive line, from left to right, will be: junior Michael Dunn, redshirt freshman Brendan Moore, senior Evan Mulrooney, senior Andrew Zeller and senior Ryan Doyle.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Fragmentary blackouts, sometimes referred to as gray outs or brown outs, are a form of amnesia in which memory for events is spotty but not completely absent.

Alcohol research : current reviews

Make mistakes, and the wrong choices are grayed out, until the only choice left is the right one.

The New York Times

UNKNOWN 2: "Same thing?" KESH: "Yeah, some of them are grayed out, but that's the same thing.

The New Yorker

Those boxes with pictures will take you to an exhibit, while those that are grayed out do not have an exhibit as yet.

University of California, Berkeley

For example, some options, such as choosing to "enthusiastically socialize" at a party, are grayed out, forcing the player's hand.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, "gray out" is preferred over "grey out" to avoid ambiguity (e.g., in code comments and UI/UX documentation).

Common error

Avoid using "gray out" when an element is only temporarily unavailable. Instead, consider messaging that clarifies when the element will become active, such as "Loading..." or "Available after confirmation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gray out" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It typically describes the action of making something visually less prominent, often to indicate inactivity or unavailability. Ludwig confirms this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

20%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gray out" is a verb phrase used to describe the action of making something less visible or active, particularly in user interfaces. According to Ludwig, this expression is grammatically correct and useful. Although it appears in various contexts like news, academic writing, and wikis, its use is more frequent in technical writing, user interface guides, and software documentation. You can use alternatives such as "dim", "disable", or "make unavailable" depending on the context. When using "gray out", make sure to accurately reflect an element's state and clearly indicate it's not interactive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grey out

A variant spelling that carries the same meaning.

dim

Suggests a reduction in brightness or intensity, similar to making something less visible.

disable

Indicates that a function or option is made inactive or unavailable.

deactivate

Similar to disable, but may imply a more formal or technical process.

fade out

Implies a gradual disappearance or reduction in visibility.

become inactive

Indicates a state of not being active or functional.

make unavailable

Directly states that something is not accessible or usable.

be rendered unclickable

Specifically applies to interactive elements, indicating they cannot be selected.

blur

Signifies a visual obscuring, reducing clarity or sharpness.

make indistinct

Indicates making something less clear or defined.

FAQs

How to use "gray out" in a sentence?

You can use "gray out" to describe making something less visible or available. For example, "The inactive buttons are "grayed out" to indicate they cannot be selected".

What does it mean when something is "grayed out"?

When something is "grayed out", it typically means it's been visually dimmed to show it's inactive or unavailable. This is commonly used in software interfaces.

What can I say instead of "gray out"?

You can use alternatives like "dim", "disable", or "make unavailable" depending on the context.

Is it "gray out" or "grey out"?

Both spellings are correct, but "gray out" is generally more common in American English, while "grey out" is more common in British English. However, in technical contexts, "gray out" is the preferred spelling.