Meaning of the word "black out" in English

What does "black out" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

black out

US /blæk aʊt/
UK /blæk aʊt/

Phrasal Verb

1.

to lose consciousness temporarily

Example:
•
He tends to black out if he stands up too quickly.
•
The pilot almost blacked out during the high-G maneuver.
2.

to intentionally prevent light from entering or leaving a place

Example:
•
During the war, cities would black out at night to avoid enemy bombing.
•
We need to black out the windows to keep the light out.
3.

to censor or suppress information, especially in media

Example:
•
The government tried to black out news of the protest.
•
Due to licensing issues, the game was blacked out in certain regions.

Noun

1.

a temporary loss of consciousness

Example:
•
He experienced a sudden blackout after hitting his head.
•
The boxer suffered a brief blackout after the powerful punch.
2.

a period when all lights go out in a building or area

Example:
•
The entire city experienced a sudden blackout.
•
We lit candles during the blackout.
3.

an official ban on the reporting of news or broadcasting of a sports event

Example:
•
There was a media blackout on the sensitive political issue.
•
The game was subject to a regional blackout, so we couldn't watch it live.