block

noun
UK: /blɒk/
US: /blɑːk/

  1. A solid piece of something, usually square or rectangular.

    1. I need a block of wood to build this shelf. [ ] [ ]
    2. The child played with colorful building blocks, constructing a tall tower with each block. [ ] [ ]

  2. An obstacle; something that prevents progress or movement.

    1. There's a block in the road, so we can't pass. [ ] [ ]
    2. His fear of failure was a major block to achieving his goals, preventing him from even trying. [ ] [ ]

  3. A group of buildings surrounded by streets.

    1. The store is just one block away from here. [ ] [ ]
    2. We walked around the block several times, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

district bar stop prevent obstacle obstruct
block verb

  1. To prevent something from happening or progressing.

    1. The fallen tree blocked the road. [ ] [ ]
    2. The government tried to block the spread of misinformation, but it was a difficult task. [ ] [ ]

  2. To obstruct someone's view or path.

    1. Please don't block my view of the stage. [ ] [ ]
    2. The tall man stood in front of me, completely blocking my view of the movie screen. [ ] [ ]
block adjective

  1. Relating to or designating a large or substantial amount of something.

    1. The museum has a block ticket for multiple exhibitions. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company purchased a block of shares in the rival corporation, signaling a potential takeover. [ ] [ ]
block plural-noun

  1. An action intended to prevent someone from scoring in a sport.

    1. The defender made a great block at the net. [ ] [ ]
    2. The basketball player's incredible block prevented the opposing team from gaining a crucial point. [ ] [ ]
block transitive-verb

  1. To stop something from passing through or functioning properly.

    1. The website blocked my IP address. [ ] [ ]
    2. The firewall is designed to block unauthorized access attempts, protecting sensitive data. [ ] [ ]
block intransitive-verb

  1. To act as a barrier or obstacle.

    1. He blocked for the running back. [ ] [ ]
    2. In the debate, she skillfully blocked any attempts to change the subject, staying on topic. [ ] [ ]
block adverb

  1. A long way from another object.

    1. My office is a block away. [ ] [ ]
    2. From the restaurant, the gallery is just a block further up the street, a short walk away. [ ] [ ]
block phrasal-verb

  1. To forget or suppress a memory.

    1. He has blocked out the accident. [ ] [ ]
    2. She tried to block out the traumatic events of her childhood, but the memories lingered. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "block" in English means: A solid piece of something, usually square or rectangular., An obstacle; something that prevents progress or movement., A group of buildings surrounded by streets..

The phonetic transcription of "block" is /blɒk/ in British English and /blɑːk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "block": district, bar, stop, prevent, obstacle, obstruct.

Example usage of "block": "I need a block of wood to build this shelf.". More examples on the page.