block out
B2Neutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
To prevent something (light, sound, a view, a memory) from entering or being perceived.
To plan or schedule time for a specific activity by reserving it and preventing other things from intruding; to sketch the basic structure of something without detail.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb carries a strong sense of active prevention or deliberate exclusion. In its planning sense, it implies a defensive scheduling tactic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use all senses. The 'schedule' sense may be slightly more frequent in American business contexts.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] block out [Object][Subject] block [Object] outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Block out the haters (informal)”
- “Sunblock blocks out UV rays.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Let's block out two hours on Friday for the budget review."
Academic
"The study aimed to see if subjects could consciously block out irrelevant auditory stimuli."
Everyday
"I use these curtains to block out the streetlights at night."
Technical
"The engineer designed a baffle to block out high-frequency interference."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She drew the heavy curtains to block out the midday sun.
- I need to block out some time in my diary for research.
American English
- He wears headphones to block out the office noise.
- Block out next Tuesday for the client presentation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Close your eyes to block out the light.
- This wall blocks out the wind.
- I listen to music to block out the noise from the construction site.
- We should block out Saturday for the trip.
- He tried to block out the traumatic memories of the accident.
- The project manager blocked out the first two weeks of April for testing.
- The artist began by blocking out the major shapes and figures on the canvas before adding detail.
- One must develop techniques to strategically block out distractions in an open-plan office.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a builder using a concrete BLOCK to build a wall that shuts OUT the world.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A CONTAINER (for memories); TIME IS A RESOURCE/SPACE (for scheduling); PERCEPTION IS PHYSICAL PENETRATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'блокировать' for the scheduling sense. Use 'выделить (время)' or 'забронировать'. For the memory sense, 'вытеснить' or 'подавить' are closer than 'заблокировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'block off' instead of 'block out' for time (e.g., 'I blocked off an hour' is also correct, but 'block out' emphasizes exclusion). Confusing 'block out' (exclude) with 'black out' (lose consciousness or censor).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'block out' used in the 'scheduling' sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'block the sun out' or 'block out the sun'. The pronoun must go in the middle: 'block it out'.
'Block out' means to exclude/prevent. 'Black out' means to lose consciousness, or to censor text by covering it with black ink.
Yes, commonly for memories or painful thoughts (e.g., 'block out the grief'), but less so for immediate emotions like anger. 'Shut out' is more common for emotions.
It's neutral and very common in professional and everyday contexts. It's perfectly acceptable in business meetings and emails.