1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To look or behave so similarly to one's surroundings that one goes unnoticed.
"The spy wore local clothes and spoke the language fluently in order to blend in."
inseparable
blend in
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To become part of a surrounding environment without being noticed; or, in cooking, to mix an ingredient smoothly into a mixture.
In plain English
To look so similar to your surroundings that nobody notices you, OR to mix something smoothly into food.
What does "blend in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To feel accepted and comfortable within a social group; to integrate socially.
"It took her a few weeks to blend in at the new school, but she made friends eventually."
inseparable
3 A2 neutral
In cooking: to mix an ingredient smoothly into a mixture until it is fully incorporated.
"Blend in the cream gradually and stir until the sauce is perfectly smooth."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To blend (mix) into something so thoroughly you become part of it.
Actually means
To look so similar to your surroundings that nobody notices you, OR to mix something smoothly into food.
Usage tip
The figurative sense (going unnoticed in a social or physical environment) is very common in everyday English. The cooking sense is standard in recipes. The figurative sense is especially used in discussions of camouflage, social integration, and espionage. Can be intransitive ('She blended in') or transitive ('Blend in the butter').
Words that pair with "blend in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
crowd background surroundings society butter mixture
How to conjugate "blend in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
blend in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
blends in
he/she/it
Past simple
blended in
yesterday
Past participle
blended in
have + pp
-ing form
blending in
continuous
Hear "blend in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "blend in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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