grey out

USAGE SUMMARY

"grey out" is a correct and usable part of written English.
It is used to refer to the action of making something look faded or to deactivate a button or other feature. For example: "The user can grey out the undesired text fields in the document."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

If the EEG and pilot's behaviour indicate that he is becoming overwhelmed, it can temporarily "grey out" less vital onscreen information and reduce incoming radio communications.

The Economist

All you need to do is press and hold with two fingers on the keyboard — the keys themselves grey out and you can then move your fingers to control the cursor.

The Guardian - Tech

For those who are data-conscious or on uncapped data tariffs, Apple has introduced a warning prompt which sees the Wi-Fi symbol grey out before switching to cellular data, while also including an option to turn off Wi-Fi assist altogether.

Independent

A horse can grey out due to old age, but also due to nutrition, how it was treated and if it was injured.

WikiHow

Canyons of fumes grey out the vast ramparts of the Bala Hisar fort.

Independent

A 21-year-old from Essex who gained a following by reading Fifty Shades of Grey out loud on YouTube and graduated to telling subscribers about the joys and humiliations of early adulthood and anything else that comes to mind.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Nor is it very noteworthy that Burroughs and Grey out-earned Fitzgerald and Hemingway in the 1920s; the same can be said of virtually any popular and "literary" authors in any decade.

The Guardian - Books

In a further software development step, the pixels in the adhesive evaluation are greyed out where there is a negative coupling condition.

Applied Adhesion Science

These vCPU preemptions translate into unexpected latency on threads 3523, 3525, 3527 and 3529, as shown by their respective lines in the view (greyed out green).

Journal of Cloud Computing

If you can't click on settings because it is greyed out, please follow the steps in the following message board  in order to turn off hardware acceleration.

BBC

The little up arrow icon at the bottom of the screen is greyed out, signifying that I have read-only access to this share.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grey out" to describe user interface elements, ensure that the visual change is distinct enough to clearly indicate that the element is inactive or unavailable. Provide alternative cues, such as tooltips, for users with visual impairments.

Common error

Avoid using "grey out" to describe physical aging or discoloration. While technically plausible, it's more common and clearer to use phrases like "turn grey" or "fade" in these contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "grey out" is a phrasal verb. It describes the action of reducing the visual prominence or functionality of something, often in a user interface. Ludwig confirms this usage with various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grey out" is a phrasal verb that signifies making something visually faded or functionally inactive. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news, media, and technical documentation, particularly when describing user interface elements. While not a super frequent phrase, understanding its meaning and proper usage can improve the clarity and precision of your writing. When describing physical phenomena, consider alternatives like "fade out" or "turn grey".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fade out

Focuses more on the visual aspect of becoming less visible, similar to reducing opacity.

disable

Emphasizes the functional aspect of making something inactive or unusable.

deactivate

Similar to disable, but often used in more technical contexts.

dim

Highlights the lessening of brightness or intensity.

blur

Suggests a loss of clarity or focus, making something less distinct.

mask

Indicates covering or concealing something, making it less noticeable.

mute

Implies silencing or suppressing something, often in the context of sound or communication.

tone down

Suggests reducing the intensity or prominence of something.

soften

Emphasizes making something less harsh or pronounced.

suppress

Highlights the act of preventing something from being expressed or perceived.

FAQs

How can I use "grey out" in a sentence?

You can use "grey out" to describe the action of making something appear faded or inactive, such as "The software will "grey out" unavailable options in the menu".

What does it mean when an option is "greyed out"?

When an option is "greyed out", it typically means that it is currently unavailable or inactive. It's a common visual cue in user interfaces to indicate that a feature cannot be used at the moment.

What's the difference between "grey out" and "disable"?

"Grey out" typically refers to the visual representation of an inactive element, while "disable" refers to the functional state of being inactive. An element might be "greyed out" to show that it is disabled.

Which is correct, "grey out" or "gray out"?

Both "grey out" and "gray out" are correct. "Grey" is the British English spelling, while "gray" is the American English spelling. Use the spelling that is appropriate for your audience.