# blink

> English word · Verb · IPA /blɪŋk/ · frequency rank #10,655

## Definitions
1. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
2. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
3. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
4. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
5. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
6. To close and reopen both eyes quickly.
7. To flash on and off at regular intervals.
8. To flash on and off at regular intervals.
9. To flash on and off at regular intervals.
10. To perform the smallest action that could solicit a response.
11. To have the slightest doubt, hesitation or remorse.
12. To shut the eyes to (something); to evade, ignore.
13. To turn slightly sour, or blinky, as beer, milk, etc.
14. To teleport, mostly for short distances.

## Etymology
From Middle English blynken, blenken, from Old English *blincan (suggested by causative verb blenċan (“to deceive”); > English blench), from Proto-Germanic *blinkaną, a variant of *blīkaną (“to gleam, shine”).
Cognate with Dutch blinken (“to glitter, shine”), German blinken (“to flash, blink”), Danish blinke (“to flash, twinkle, wink, blink”), Swedish blinka (“to flash, blink, twinkle, wink, blink”). Related to blank, blick, blike, bleak.

## Easily confused with
- **bunk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-bunk)
- **blip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-blip)
- **brin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-brin)
- **bring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-bring)
- **block** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-block)
- **brick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-brick)
- **blunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-blunt)
- **bliss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-bliss)
- **blitz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-blitz)
- **blond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-blond)
- **brink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-brink)
- **brisk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-brisk)
- **Buick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-buick)
- **brine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-brine)
- **boing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-boing)
- **blinks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-blinks)
- **byline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blink-vs-byline)
- **bin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bin-vs-blink)
- **bank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bank-vs-blink)
- **bind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bind-vs-blink)

## Common misspellings (8)
`bblink`, `bilnk`, `blikn`, `blinkk`, `blinnk`, `bllink`, `blnik`, `lbink`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/blink