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Glite Dictionary
blotted out

blotted out

7.4
Completely covered or removed so nothing remains
  • idiom
translation icon : borrado
  • As the fog rolled in, it blotted out the view of the mountains entirely.

So, So what what it would look like would be the sun blotted out, but then surrounding the sun, this perfect ring, what we call an Einstein ring.

Examples

  • The bright light from the explosion blotted out everything in the vicinity.

  • The memories of that painful event were blotted out in his mind by years of therapy.

  • So this brown, deep, rich brown kind of blotted out on the lips and then with a really shiny gloss on top, like that's kind of a cool combo.

Synonyms

to wipe out
vsblotted out
189 4.2

Destroy something so nothing is left

highlights absolute disappearance rather than partial loss
to erase
vsblotted out
144 1.6

Remove marks, writing, or digital files so they are no longer visible

is broader meaning total removal or destruction beyond traces
to obliterate
vsblotted out
71 7.5

To destroy something completely so nothing remains

stresses disappearance into complete nonexistence rather than mere hiding
to black out
vsblotted out
10 3.9

To make a place completely dark by turning off or covering lights

concerns total disappearance or destruction not mere darkness
to blot out
vsblotted out
8 5.4

Hide something so you cannot see it or remember it

focuses on complete removal or destruction rather than mere covering
to vanish off the face of the earth
vsblotted out
  • Informal
1 8.1

Disappear completely so no one knows what happened and no sign is left

implies being entirely erased or destroyed rather than just unknown
obliterated
vsblotted out
6.5

Completely destroyed so nothing is left

emphasizes total erasure and reduction to absolute nothingness
annihilated
vsblotted out
  • NSFW
7.0

Completely destroyed so nothing is left

focuses on being erased or made to disappear entirely
gone off the face of the earth
vsblotted out
  • Informal
9.5

Someone or something disappears completely so nobody knows where they are

suggests total erasure or destruction, not only absence
to blacken out
vsblotted out
6.0

To make a place or screen completely dark so no light shows

is about erasing existence rather than just blocking light

Antonyms

to restore
219 3.5

Return something like a painting or building to its original working condition

unveiled
4.2

Shown to the public after being kept secret

How Visible

visible
398 1.0
smeary
1 4.4
faint
148 2.7
blotted out
7.4

Surface Forms

blotted out positive

Morphology

blotted + out

The verb 'blot' (to make a mark or to cover) combined with the particle 'out' yields a metaphorical extension meaning 'erase or obscure completely.' This relation is partially predictable from the parts (the particle adds completeness) but the specific sense of total erasure or annihilation is somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully derivable by a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Blotted out comes from the simple image of pressing blotting paper or a cloth over wet ink or a bright light until the mark or light is hidden. So, if something is blotted out, it is made to 'disappear' or be forgotten.