blankness
empty, unmarked surface or space
when something is empty and has nothing on it
the blankness of [a page/screen/space]
- 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.
- I looked at the blankness of the page.
- The screen went dark, and there was only blankness.
lack of facial expression
when someone’s face shows no feeling
the blankness in [someone]'s face/eyes
- 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.
- He looked at me with blankness.
- I saw blankness in her face.
temporary inability to think
a short time when you cannot think or remember
a moment/second of blankness
- 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.
- I had a moment of blankness.
- For a second, I felt blankness.
lack of meaning or substance
when something has no real ideas or meaning
the blankness of [a statement/plot/design]
- 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.
- The story had blankness, so it felt boring.
emotional numbness or emptiness
when you feel no emotion
a feeling/sense of blankness
- 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.
- I felt blankness after the bad news.
plain, undecorated appearance
when something looks plain and has no decoration
the blankness of [a wall/room/design]
- 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.
- The wall had blankness, so we hung a picture.
- Base: blankness
- Plural: blankness
a blank look
1expressionless face showing no understanding
a face that shows no feeling or understanding
- 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
1fixed, expressionless look
a long look with no expression
- 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
1unlimited permission or money
permission to spend or do anything
- 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
1Without prior experience or influence
A person or thing with no experience or history, ready to be shaped or taught.
- 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
1fresh start with no history
a new start with nothing decided yet
- 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
1Fail to remember or find answer
To try but not be able to remember something or find an answer.
- I tried to remember his name, but I drew a blank.
- She drew a blank when asked about the meeting details.
draw a blank
1find nothing; get no answer
to try but find nothing
- 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
1suddenly forget or stop thinking
to suddenly forget what to say or do
- 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
1not fill in a space
to not write anything in a space
- 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.