<p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to close and reopen the eyes, especially involuntarily: Every time I blink, it makes the cut on my eyelid hurt.</li><li>to look with half-shut eyes or rapidly closing and opening eyes: I blinked at the harsh morning light.</li><li>to be startled, surprised, or dismayed (usually followed by at): She blinked at his sudden fury.</li><li>to look evasively or with indifference; ignore (often followed by at): to blink at another's eccentricities.</li><li>to shine unsteadily, dimly, or intermittently; twinkle; flicker: The light on the buoy blinked in the distance.</li><li>to yield or back down from a confrontation: All eyes are on the two nations' standoff, waiting to see who blinks.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to close and reopen (the eye or eyes), usually rapidly, repeatedly, or involuntarily: She blinked her eyes in an effort to wake up.</li><li>to cause (something) to twinkle or shine intermittently: We blinked the flashlight frantically, but there was no response.</li><li>Rare. to ignore deliberately; evade; shirk: Although deaths continue to rise, the authorities have blinked the problem.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>an act or instance of closing and reopening the eyes, especially repeatedly or involuntarily: She claimed not to be startled, but her blink betrayed her.</li><li>the act or condition of flickering, twinkling, or shining intermittently: The faithful blink of the lighthouse comforted the crew.</li></ul>