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."
inseparable
fuzz out
C1 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To become blurry, indistinct, or unclear, especially in terms of an image, sound, or mental state.
In plain English
To become blurry or hard to see/hear/understand clearly.
What does "fuzz out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To spread outward like fuzz (loose fibres), becoming indistinct at the edges.
Actually means
To become blurry or hard to see/hear/understand clearly.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "fuzz out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
image screen edges memory signal background
How to conjugate "fuzz out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "fuzz out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fuzz out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "fuzz out"
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