fuzz out
C1 informal inseparable both
In simple words
To become blurry or hard to see/hear/understand clearly.
Literal meaning: To spread outward like fuzz (loose fibres), becoming indistinct at the edges.
Meanings
1 C1 informal
Of an image, screen, or signal: to become blurry or visually unclear.
"The photograph fuzzes out at the edges — it wasn't in focus when taken."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
Of a memory, thought, or mental state: to become unclear or difficult to recall or process.
"After the third hour of the lecture, everything started to fuzz out and she couldn't retain anything."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Can be used literally (an image or sound becoming indistinct) or figuratively (a memory or thought becoming unclear). Can also be used transitively to mean to deliberately make something blurry or indistinct. Not widely used; context-dependent.
Commonly used with
image screen edges memory signal background
Forms
Base
fuzz out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fuzzes out
he/she/it
Past simple
fuzzed out
yesterday
Past participle
fuzzed out
have + pp
-ing form
fuzzing out
continuous
Understand "fuzz out" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "fuzz out" on Looplines