blankness
/ˈblæŋknəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈblæŋknəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈblaŋk-nəs/ (ame, mw)
blankness — noun
1. the state of having no emotional reaction, no clear thoughts, or no interest in
the state of having no emotional reaction, no clear thoughts, or no interest in what is happening around you
The doctor saw a look of blankness on the patient's face after the bad news.
look of blankness — collocation for facial expression
An emotional blankness came over Theo as he listened to the long, sad story.
blankness came over [person] — describing a feeling taking hold
During the exam, a sudden blankness made it impossible for Rosa to answer any questions.
The long walk through the empty streets left Kwame with a feeling of total blankness.
After hours of studying, Yuki stared at the page with complete blankness in her eyes.
- emptiness
more general; can describe both emotional and physical absence, while blankness leans toward mental or surface emptiness
- numbness
specifically a lack of feeling or sensation, often physical or emotional, suggesting a loss that blankness does not carry
- vacancy
often suggests a temporary absence of thought or expression, like a vacant stare
- awareness
the opposite of mental blankness — being alert and responsive to what is happening
- expression
the opposite of a blank face — showing visible emotion or reaction
用法筆記
Often used with descriptive adjectives like 'complete', 'total', 'sudden', or 'emotional' to specify the type of blankness.
常見錯誤
2. the condition of a surface that has nothing written, drawn, or printed on it
the condition of a surface that has nothing written, drawn, or printed on it
The blankness of the new whiteboard made the classroom look ready for the first lesson.
blankness of the [surface] — describing an empty surface
Mei-Lin preferred the blankness of a plain wall over walls covered in posters.
The artist stared at the blankness of the canvas for twenty minutes before starting.
There was a strange blankness where the street sign used to be on the corner.
The blankness of the fresh notebook pages made Jack feel both nervous and excited.
- emptiness
broader term; can describe any space with nothing in it, while blankness strongly suggests a surface meant to show something
- bareness
suggests a lack of usual decoration or covering, often used for walls, rooms, or landscapes
- plainness
emphasises the lack of decoration or pattern, often with a neutral or positive tone
- decoration
the opposite of a blank surface — marks, pictures, or patterns added to cover it
- writing
the opposite of a blank page — words or symbols that fill the space
用法筆記
Describes a smooth, clean, or untouched surface. Unlike Sense 1 (LACK OF FEELING), this sense applies only to physical objects such as paper, walls, screens, or boards.