blindfold

1 of 2

verb

blind·​fold ˈblīn(d)-ˌfōld How to pronounce blindfold (audio)
blindfolded; blindfolding; blindfolds

transitive verb

1
: to cover the eyes of with or as if with a bandage
2
: to hinder from seeing
especially : to keep from comprehension
blindfold adjective

blindfold

2 of 2

noun

1
: a bandage for covering the eyes
2
: something that obscures mental or physical vision

Examples of blindfold in a Sentence

Verb The kidnappers tied him up and blindfolded him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
At one point in the episode, Barrymore was blindfolded and taken outside to fulfill one of her childhood dreams: to take a spin in the Wienermobile. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 The soldiers tied up and blindfolded the women and children in the family and placed them outside the home, the cousin said. Marin Scott, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 Tape Face invited Cowell to stand onstage and place his hands on a microphone stand while the New Zealand comic blindfolded him. USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024 Matt was actually blindfolded and taken into the house before the game began to test out the tech. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2023 Who can drop a ball when blindfolded into a tall, thin container? Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 On the way to embed with Israeli forces in Gaza, CNN saw more than two dozen detained Palestinian men blindfolded and barefoot, their hands tied behind their backs. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024 Visitors will be blindfolded while listening to a 15-minute soundtrack that plays iconic sounds from the Mediterranean. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2023 Images leaked in December showing masses of detainees blindfolded and stripped to their underwear elicited international outrage. Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2024
Noun
Sandra Bullock stars as Malorie Hayes, a woman responsible for transporting two young children down a river while wearing blindfolds, a strategy intended to help the survivors avoid seeing the entities that attacked Earth five years earlier, and who cause those who look upon them to commit suicide. EW.com, 18 Jan. 2024 Contestants competed in sock fighting, fighting in blindfolds and shock collars and a fighting version of musical chairs. Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023 Demonstrators sit wearing red blindfolds with their hands zip-tied in Tel Aviv today. NBC News, 3 Nov. 2023 When contractors arrive to make repairs at the mine, they are reportedly led to the equipment in blindfolds. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 The drug removes biological blindfolds that stymie immune cells in certain cancers, enabling the immune system to recognize and attack tumors. Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023 Tedros uses blindfolds, electric shocks, and knife play with his subjects to get the same results, but the new Jocelyn music isn’t more fulfilling than the old stuff. Vulture, 30 June 2023 At the end of the performance, the dance troupe removed their blindfolds, revealing the contortionists’ unthreatening appearance. USA TODAY, 19 July 2023 What happened when an L.A. speed-dating event required blindfolds. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blindfold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English blindfellen, blindfelden to strike blind, blindfold, from blind + fellen to fell

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blindfold was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near blindfold

Cite this Entry

“Blindfold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blindfold. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blindfold

1 of 2 verb
blind·​fold ˈblīn(d)-ˌfōld How to pronounce blindfold (audio)
: to cover the eyes of with or as if with a strip of cloth
blindfold adjective

blindfold

2 of 2 noun
: a strip of cloth for covering the eyes

More from Merriam-Webster on blindfold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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