adjective

blue

bloo

adjective

Having the colour of a clear daytime sky.

"She painted the nursery walls a soft blue."

"The lake was a brilliant blue under the midday sun."

Sad or depressed.

"He'd been feeling blue ever since the move."

noun

The colour itself, between green and violet on the spectrum.

"Blue is her favourite colour for interiors."

A member of a police force, sports team, or political party associated with the colour blue (informal, often plural as "blues").

"The Blues took an early lead in the first half."

How to Use Blue

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe colour blue, or — informally — a low, sad mood.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "feeling blue" (sad) with "true blue" (loyal) or political "blue," which means different things in the UK (Conservative) and US (Democratic).

UK vs US

"Blue" refers to the Conservative Party in the UK but the Democratic Party in the US — opposite associations.

Common pairings

feeling blue out of the blue once in a blue moon blue in the face

Word Forms

bluer comparative, more blue comparative, blued past tense, blued past tense, blues plural, Blues plural, blues singular, blues singular, bluest superlative, most blue superlative

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She painted the nursery walls a soft _____.

Etymology

From Old French bleu, from a Frankish word related to Proto-Germanic *blēwaz ("blue, dark blue"); a distant cousin of Latin flavus ("yellow") and doublet of the English word "blow."

Synonyms

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azure cerulean navy sapphire X-rated indigo royal sky blue ultramarine aqua aquamarine cyan

Antonyms

nonblue unblue conservative red Republican antiblue

Related Words

red violet azure indigo navy amber sapphire communist

Rhymes for blue

rue due sue cue hue Que yue Vue Xue true flue clue

See all rhymes for blue →

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azure cerulean navy sapphire X-rated indigo royal sky blue ultramarine aqua aquamarine cyan