blocking

word · lemma: block

/ˈbɫɑkɪŋ/
BLAH-king
/blˈɒkɪŋ/
BLO-king

Definition

The act of stopping or preventing something from moving, passing, or happening; also used for stopping someone on social media or in sports.

Usage & Nuances

Common in sports, technology, and online contexts. In social media, 'blocking' means preventing someone from contacting you. In sports, it refers to physically stopping an opponent. Sometimes confused with 'blocking out' (ignoring mentally) or 'blockage' (the thing causing the stop).

Example Sentences

She is blocking the doorway with her bag.

basic

Blocking calls from unknown numbers helps reduce spam.

basic

The team got a penalty for blocking.

basic

My friend keeps blocking and unblocking me on social media.

natural

They’re blocking the main road for construction work.

natural

He’s always blocking my ideas in meetings.

natural