blankness
gb/blˈæŋknəs/ us/blˈæŋknəs/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
empty, unmarked surface or space
when something is empty and has nothing on it
Usage pattern:
the blankness of [a page/screen/space]
Common mistake:
Learners may use *blankness* where *blank* (adjective) is more natural (e.g., “a blank page,” not “a blankness page”).
Synonyms
emptiness (general lack of content; not necessarily a blank surface)
|
void (stronger, more dramatic sense of emptiness)
Antonyms
fullness (having content or being filled)
|
busyness (having many details or things present)
Collocations
the blankness of the page
|the blankness of the screen
|sheer blankness
|total blankness
|stare at the blankness
|fill the blankness
|sudden blankness
|unbroken blankness
Themes
writing
|technology
|daily_life
Examples
- The blankness of the document made it hard to know where to start.
- After the slideshow ended, the blankness of the screen felt oddly quiet.
- He kept flipping pages, unsettled by the blankness at the end of the notebook.
Learner examples
- I looked at the blankness of the page.
- The screen went dark, and there was only blankness.
Noun
C1
property
2
lack of facial expression
when someone’s face shows no feeling
Usage pattern:
the blankness in [someone]'s face/eyes
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *blankness* (no expression) with *coldness* (unfriendly) or *blindness* (cannot see).
Synonyms
expressionlessness (more explicit and formal; less common in everyday speech)
|
impassivity (suggests controlled lack of reaction)
Antonyms
expressiveness (clearly showing emotion or reaction)
|
animation (lively, visibly engaged expression)
Collocations
the blankness in his eyes
|a look of blankness
|complete blankness
|sudden blankness
|mask of blankness
|wear blankness
|blankness replaced by a smile
Themes
emotions
|communication
|people
Examples
- She answered with a blankness that made it impossible to tell what she meant.
- For a moment, there was blankness in his eyes, as if he hadn’t understood.
- The photo captures the blankness on his face during the announcement.
Learner examples
- He looked at me with blankness.
- I saw blankness in her face.
Noun
B2
event
3
temporary inability to think
a short time when you cannot think or remember
Usage pattern:
a moment/second of blankness
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse *blankness* where *I forgot* or *I blanked* is more natural in casual speech.
Synonyms
brain freeze (informal; often about a sudden stop in thinking)
|
lapse (more general and can last longer than a moment)
Antonyms
clarity (thinking clearly and understanding)
|
recall (successfully remembering)
Collocations
a moment of blankness
|a second of blankness
|sudden blankness
|complete blankness
|experience blankness
|recover from blankness
|blankness hit me
Themes
mind
|education
|health
Examples
- In the middle of the presentation, a moment of blankness made him lose his place.
- I had a sudden blankness and couldn’t remember her name.
- The question was easy, but blankness took over during the exam.
Learner examples
- I had a moment of blankness.
- For a second, I felt blankness.
Noun
C1
abstract
4
lack of meaning or substance
when something has no real ideas or meaning
Usage pattern:
the blankness of [a statement/plot/design]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical emptiness; here it means ‘no content/ideas’.
Synonyms
vacuity (more formal; emphasizes shallow or empty ideas)
|
hollowness (suggests something seems impressive but lacks real substance)
Antonyms
depth (richness of meaning or ideas)
|
substance (real content and value)
Collocations
the blankness of the dialogue
|the blankness of the plot
|intellectual blankness
|emotional blankness
|sheer blankness
|air of blankness
|sense of blankness
Themes
communication
|media
|art
Examples
- Behind the confident tone, there was a blankness to his argument.
- Critics complained about the blankness of the dialogue and the predictable plot.
- The campaign slogan had a polished sound but a certain blankness.
Learner examples
- The story had blankness, so it felt boring.
Noun
C1
state
5
emotional numbness or emptiness
when you feel no emotion
Usage pattern:
a feeling/sense of blankness
Common mistake:
Learners may use *depression* when they only mean temporary numbness; *blankness* is broader and not a diagnosis.
Synonyms
numbness (more common; can be emotional or physical)
|
emptiness (broader; can be emotional or physical)
Antonyms
joy (clear positive feeling instead of numbness)
|
intensity (strong emotion rather than absence of feeling)
Collocations
a sense of blankness
|a feeling of blankness
|emotional blankness
|inner blankness
|profound blankness
|sink into blankness
|blankness afterward
Themes
emotions
|mental_health
Examples
- After the breakup, she moved through the days in a kind of blankness.
- He described a persistent blankness that made everything seem distant.
- The shock wore off, replaced by a quiet blankness.
Learner examples
- I felt blankness after the bad news.
Noun
C1
property
6
plain, undecorated appearance
when something looks plain and has no decoration
Usage pattern:
the blankness of [a wall/room/design]
Common mistake:
Learners may prefer *plainness* in many cases; *blankness* often suggests something feels empty or unfinished.
Synonyms
plainness (more neutral; less suggestion of emptiness)
|
bareness (emphasizes lack of objects or decoration)
Antonyms
ornamentation (decorative details added)
|
colorfulness (many colors/patterns rather than plain)
Collocations
the blankness of the wall
|the blankness of the room
|visual blankness
|design blankness
|stark blankness
|unrelieved blankness
|blankness broken by artwork
Themes
design
|daily_life
Examples
- They added framed prints to reduce the blankness of the hallway.
- The blankness of the lobby made the building feel unfinished.
- A single bright rug broke up the blankness of the white room.
Learner examples
- The wall had blankness, so we hung a picture.
Grammar
Dictionary form
blankness
IPA
GB/blˈæŋknəs/
US/blˈæŋknəs/
Syllables & stress
blank - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (blank)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: blankness
- Plural: blankness
Word family
Core family
blank
adjective A2
blankly
adverb
Expressions
a blank look
1/ə blˈæŋk lˈʊk/
fixed phrase
expressionless face showing no understanding
a face that shows no feeling or understanding
Examples
- When I mentioned the band, he gave me a blank look.
- She stared at the form with a blank look, unsure what to write.
- The joke got only blank looks from the audience.
a blank stare
1/ə blˈæŋk stˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
fixed, expressionless look
a long look with no expression
Examples
- He responded with a blank stare, as if he hadn’t heard me.
- After the accident, she sat there with a blank stare.
- My suggestion was met with blank stares around the table.
blank check
1/blˈæŋk t͡ʃˈɛk/
fixed phrase
unlimited permission or money
permission to spend or do anything
Examples
- The board refused to give the CEO a blank check for new acquisitions.
- Taxpayers don’t want to write a blank check for the project.
- In the contract, the client effectively gave them a blank check to change the design.
blank slate
1/blˈæŋk slˈeɪt/
idiom
Without prior experience or influence
A person or thing with no experience or history, ready to be shaped or taught.
Examples
- She approached the job as a blank slate, ready to learn everything from scratch.
- The new policy starts with a blank slate for all employees.
blank slate
1/blˈæŋk slˈeɪt/
idiom
fresh start with no history
a new start with nothing decided yet
Examples
- After the rebrand, the company wanted to start with a blank slate.
- I moved to a new city to begin with a blank slate.
- The coach treated every tryout as a blank slate.
draw a blank
1/dɹˈɔ ə blˈæŋk/
idiom
informal
Fail to remember or find answer
To try but not be able to remember something or find an answer.
Examples
- I tried to remember his name, but I drew a blank.
- She drew a blank when asked about the meeting details.
draw a blank
1/dɹˈɔ ə blˈæŋk/
idiom
find nothing; get no answer
to try but find nothing
Examples
- I tried to remember his last name, but I drew a blank.
- The police questioned several witnesses and drew a blank.
- We searched online for hours and still drew a blank.
go blank
1/ɡˈoʊ blˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
suddenly forget or stop thinking
to suddenly forget what to say or do
Examples
- I went blank when the interviewer asked me why I wanted the job.
- Halfway through her speech, she went blank and had to check her notes.
- Don’t worry if you go blank on one question—move to the next.
leave [something] blank
1/lˈiv sˈʌmθɪŋ blˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
not fill in a space
to not write anything in a space
Examples
- If the question doesn’t apply to you, leave it blank.
- Please don’t leave the signature line blank.
- He left the date blank because he wasn’t sure.