blear

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /blɪr/ UK /blɪə/ See IPA manual

adj verb

Meanings

1

adj
dim or blurred, as with tears or fatigue; to dim

His blear eyes could scarcely read the small print.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · dim or blurred, as with... blur dim cloud obscure mist blurred dimmed filmy

Opposites

clear sharp bright

Word family

Derived forms blearyblearedblearilybleariness

Related forms blur

Etymology

From Middle English bleren ('to make dim, blur'), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Middle High German blerre ('blurredness') and Old English blǣre.

bleren Middle English

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Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

# blear

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** blɪr
**IPA (UK):** blɪə

## Meanings
1. dim or blurred, as with tears or fatigue; to dim

## Examples
- His blear eyes could scarcely read the small print.

## Synonyms
- blur
- dim
- cloud
- obscure
- mist
- blurred
- dimmed
- filmy

## Antonyms
- clear
- sharp
- bright

## Derived Forms
- bleary
- bleared
- blearily
- bleariness

## Related Forms
- blur

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bleren

## Etymology
From Middle English bleren ('to make dim, blur'), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Middle High German blerre ('blurredness') and Old English blǣre.

## AI Etymology
Blear is from Middle English bleren ('to make dim, blur'), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Middle High German blerre ('blurredness') and Old English blǣre. Important recorded forms include bleren (Middle English). The current sense covers dim or blurred, as with tears or fatigue; to dim. The wider family includes derived forms such as bleary, bleared, blearily, and bleariness and related words such as blur.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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blear

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