1 B2 neutral
To erase or cover text, images, or information so that nothing remains visible.
"She blanked out the personal details on the form before photocopying it."
separable
blank out
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To erase or cover something so nothing remains visible; or to suddenly lose the ability to think or remember; or to deliberately suppress a memory.
In plain English
To make something empty and white, OR to suddenly forget everything, OR to try to forget something painful.
What does "blank out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To experience a sudden complete loss of memory or mental function.
"I knew all the answers at home, but my mind blanked out completely during the test."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To deliberately try to forget or suppress an unpleasant memory or feeling.
"He tried to blank out the painful memories of the accident by keeping himself busy."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make something completely blank — white, empty, erased.
Actually means
To make something empty and white, OR to suddenly forget everything, OR to try to forget something painful.
Usage tip
Covers both literal (erasing written content) and figurative (mental blocking) senses. The forgetting/dissociation sense is common in everyday speech. The suppression-of-memory sense is often used in psychological contexts. British and American English use it similarly.
Words that pair with "blank out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
memory text name mind pain everything
How to conjugate "blank out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
blank out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blanks out
he/she/it
Past simple
blanked out
yesterday
Past participle
blanked out
have + pp
-ing form
blanking out
continuous
Hear "blank out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "blank out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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