What is blind? Pronunciation and usage in English

blind means . Learn how to pronounce and use blind through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of blind

blindadjective/verb

/blʌɪnd/
Definition & pronunciation of blind

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "blind." It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and correct pronunciation is:

  • /blaɪnd/ (This is the pronunciation you'll hear most often in American English)

Let's break it down:

  • "bl": Sounds like the "bl" in "blue" – a quick, sharp "bl" sound.
  • "i": Sounds like the "i" in "bit" or "time" – a short, quick "ih" sound.
  • "nd": Sounds like the "nd" in "hand" – a nasal "nd" sound. This is the key part that trips people up. Your tongue should be slightly raised in the back of your mouth, and you should feel a little vibration in your nose.

Here's a slightly more detailed breakdown of the nasal "nd" sound:

  1. Start with the "n" sound: Feel the vibration in your nose.
  2. Add the "d" sound: The "d" creates a slight closure in the back of your throat, allowing the nasal airflow to continue. It's not a hard "d" like in "dog."

Resources for Hearing It:

Important Note: In British English, the pronunciation is slightly different: /baɪnd/ (with a broader "i" sound).

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Usage and examples with the word blind in English

Let's break down how to use the word "blind" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here’s a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Literal Blindness (Physical Impairment)

  • Definition: Lack of sight.
  • Examples:
    • "He was born blind."
    • "The accident left her temporarily blind."
    • "The patient requires surgery to restore his blindness."
    • “The doctor assessed his blind spot.”

2. Figurative Blindness (Lack of Awareness)

This is where "blind" gets really interesting. It describes a state of being unaware, unseeing, or unwilling to see something obvious.

  • a) Blind to the Truth / Obvious: Not noticing or acknowledging something that is clear to others.

    • "She was blind to his manipulative behavior." (She didn't realize he was being manipulative.)
    • "He was blindly following orders, without questioning them." (He wasn't thinking critically.)
    • “I was blind to the suffering of others.” (I didn’t recognize it or care.)

  • b) Blindly Following / Acting: Doing something without thinking, usually because of obedience or enthusiasm.

    • "The crowd acted blindly as the protestors marched." (They followed without questioning.)
    • “He followed her blindly into the forest.” (Without looking around or considering danger.)

  • c) Blind Faith / Belief: Having unwavering belief in something, often without evidence or reason.

    • "He had a blind faith in his religion."
    • "She clung to her blind belief in destiny."

3. "Blind" as an Adjective (Describing Something that Prevents Vision)

  • Definition: That obscures vision; hindering sight.
  • Examples:
    • "The fog was blinding." (So thick it made it hard to see)
    • "The sun was blinding me."
    • “The glare from the snow was blinding.”

4. "Blind" as a Verb (Acting Without Seeing)

  • Definition: To act or proceed without considering the consequences or with a lack of awareness.
  • Examples:
    • “He blindly accepted the invitation.” (He accepted it eagerly without thinking about the event.)
    • “She blindly followed his instructions.”

Key Nuances & Related Words

  • Blindly vs. Openly: 'Blindly' suggests a lack of critical thought; ‘openly’ suggests honesty and transparency.
  • Seeing-eye dogs: Assist people who are blind.
  • Blind spot: A point where someone’s perception is limited or they fail to recognize a problem.
  • Law of Blindness: A mathematical paradox illustrating the limitations of human perception.

Tips for Using "Blind" Effectively

  • Context is crucial: The meaning of "blind" depends heavily on the surrounding words and the overall situation.
  • Consider the figurative meaning: Don't just assume it means literal blindness. Think about whether the sentence is describing a lack of awareness.
  • Synonyms: If "blind" feels too strong, you might consider words like “unaware,” “unseeing,” “ignorant,” “thoughtless,” or “oblivious.”

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Synonyms for the word blind

Idioms of the word blind

(as) blind as a bat
(humorous)not able to see well
  • She’s as blind as a bat without her glasses.
the blind leading the blind
a situation in which people with almost no experience or knowledge give advice to others who also have no experience or knowledge
    love is blind
    (saying)when you love somebody, you cannot see their faults
      not a blind bit/the blindest bit of…
      (British English, informal)not any
      • He didn't take a blind bit of notice of me (= he ignored me).
      • It won't make the blindest bit of difference (= it will make no difference at all).
      turn a blind eye (to something)
      to pretend not to notice something bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it
      • The authorities were either unaware of the problem or they turned a blind eye to it.

      Practice with vocabulary blind

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. The artist created a stunning sculpture despite being ________ for most of his life.
      2. She decided to take a ________ guess at the answer since she didn’t have enough information.
      3. The driver was ________ to the fact that the road was closed ahead.
      4. He bought a pair of glasses to correct his ________ vision.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. Which word describes someone who cannot see?
        a) deaf
        b) blind
        c) mute
        d) numb

      2. Choose the correct words to complete the sentence: "The test was conducted in a ________ manner to ensure fairness."
        a) blind
        b) objective
        c) random
        d) subjective

      3. Which word fits best in the sentence: "She turned a ________ eye to his mistakes because she trusted him."
        a) blind
        b) forgiving
        c) sharp
        d) careless

      4. Which word means unaware or ignorant?
        a) oblivious
        b) blind
        c) careless
        d) perceptive

      5. Which word describes a situation where people are not given full information?
        a) transparent
        b) blind
        c) secretive
        d) open

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: He didn’t notice the warning signs.
        Rewrite: He was blind to the warning signs.

      2. Original: The experiment was conducted without revealing the participants’ identities.
        Rewrite: The experiment was conducted in a blind manner.

      3. Original: She ignored his rude behavior.
        Rewrite: She chose to overlook his rude behavior.

      Answers:

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. blind
      2. blind
      3. unaware
      4. poor

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. b) blind
      2. a) blind, b) objective
      3. a) blind
      4. a) oblivious
      5. b) blind

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. He was blind to the warning signs.
      2. The experiment was conducted in a blind manner.
      3. She chose to overlook his rude behavior.

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