View synonyms for black out

black out

Extinguish all lights. For example, The whole town was asleep, as blacked out as London during the war . In the early 1900s this expression alluded to the lights in a theater, but from about 1940 on it meant darkening an entire city to hide it from enemy bombers.
Obliterate with black, as in crossing out words on a page or print on a screen. For example, They have blacked out all the obscene words in the subtitles to make this movie suitable for youngsters . This usage may be derived from an earlier meaning, “to stain or defame,” which dates from the 15th century (and probably alludes to “blackening” a person's reputation). [Mid-1800s]
Lose consciousness, faint; also, experience a temporary loss of memory. For example, I couldn't remember a single note of the music; I blacked out completely , or The accused man claims he blacked out after his first drink . This usage is thought to have originated with pilots, who sometimes fainted briefly when pulling out of a power dive. It soon was transferred to other losses of consciousness or memory. [c. 1940]

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Example Sentences

In one instance, alleged to have apparently taken place in July 2022, the lawsuit describes the woman being compelled to take the drug ketamine, which caused her to “black out” and “lose consciousness intermittently throughout the night”.

From BBC

In July 2022, the woman alleges, she was at Combs’ Los Angeles home, where she was told to take an unknown substance that she now believes was ketamine, causing her to black out.

From Los Angeles Times

I didn’t, of course, die or even black out.

From Los Angeles Times

Performances, which begin June 29, will include two “Black Out” nights similar to the Broadway performances for Black-identifying audiences.

From Los Angeles Times

Spots began to pop in front of Jack’s eyes, and the bright white of the snow walls began to blur, but just as he thought he would black out, May’s grandmother removed her hand.

From Literature

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