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Glite Dictionary
👁️ To close eyes quickly 👁️ A fast eye movement 💡 To flash on and off 😢 To hold back tears
to blink

to blink

41 2.9
To close and open the eyelids to stop tears from falling
  • verb
  • /blɪŋk/
translation icon : contener las lágrimas
  • "I tried to blink away the many images of his stern white face in the garage.

I tried, just kept shoving it down, blinked back the tears.

Examples

  • I tried, just kept shoving it down, blinked back the tears.

    Dr. Mayim Bialik

  • And if I must die for my people, I will do it," Mrs. Prescott blinked back tears.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • In trying to blink back focus, he discovered that his eyes were closed.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I kept looking, forcing myself not to blink, and then the brightness began to dissolve.

    Blog text (22)

  • Finally, Quentin blinked and turned calmly, still revealing no emotion, and gave his pronouncement.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Catti-brie didn't flinch, didn't blink; her determined stare forced Wulfgar back a step.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She struggled to blink back the tears during the emotional farewell.

  • As she recalled the sad memories, she tried to blink her tears away.

  • He blinked back his emotion, unwilling to let anyone see his pain.

Synonyms

to wink
vsto blink
9 6.2

To blink many times to stop tears or strong feelings

tries to suppress feelings but does not require repeated closures
to blink away
vsto blink
1 5.7

To hold back tears by quickly closing your eyes

tries to suppress emotion but may not prevent tears from falling
to blink back tears
vsto blink
1 4.9

To try to stop crying by blinking quickly

is the same action but without requiring rapid repeated motion

Antonyms

to cry
∞ 1.0

To let tears fall because you feel sad or hurt

to express
∞ 2.3

To show ideas and feelings by words or actions

Idioms

in the blink of an eye
  • Informal
50 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

blink of an eye
  • Informal
35 2.8

A very short moment that passes almost instantly

blink-and-you-miss-it
  • Informal
8.3

Very short and easy to miss if you do not look closely

Phrasal Verbs

to blink away
1 5.7

To hold back tears by quickly closing your eyes

to blink back tears
1 4.9

To try to stop crying by blinking quickly

Compounds

eye blink
2 1.0

A quick closing and opening of an eyelid that keeps the eye wet and protected

How Controlled

to compose
33 4.7
to stifle
49 5.3
to blink
41 2.9
to cry
∞ 1.0
to sob
15 1.0

Surface Forms

blink infinitive
blinked past
blinked past participle
blinking present participle
blinks third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb blink when it means to stop tears is to think of the old English blincan 'to wink' — the same quick eye movement can hide or push away tears, so to blink is to try to hold back emotion.