Definition of "blank out" in English

Verb

1. To become blank.

   • He removed the paper from the heat, and the paper blanked out.
   • The screen blanked out during the power cut.
   • He blanked out five minutes into the meeting.
   • I'm blanking out on your name, I'm afraid.

2. To temporarily lose memory.

   • He blanked out five minutes into the meeting.
   • I'm blanking out on your name, I'm afraid.

3. To cause (something) to become blank. To erase (something), leaving a blank in its place.

   • The teacher blanked out some words from the text, which the students had to fill in.
   • They had to blank out five obscenities before airing the song.
   • He blanked out the abuse he had suffered as a child.

4. To erase (something), leaving a blank in its place.

   • The teacher blanked out some words from the text, which the students had to fill in.
   • They had to blank out five obscenities before airing the song.

5. To erase from one's memory.

   • He blanked out the abuse he had suffered as a child.

6. To get even; to neutralise.

   • Beckham's second-half goal blanked out Filippi's first-half header to put the score at 1-1.