blitz

The word “blitz” means to attack suddenly and with great force, or to complete a task very quickly and intensively. In plain terms, a sudden, intense attack, or an intense, fast burst of effort to get something done quickly.

“Blitz” is pronounced blihts (/blɪts/ in IPA).

Here is “blitz” used in a sentence: “The city was blitzed by enemy bombers.”

Depending on how it is used, “blitz” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “blitz” comes from German. Shortened from blitzkrieg, German for "lightning war," first used of World War II bombing raids.

“Blitz” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

“Blitz” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to attack suddenly and with great force, or to complete a task very quickly and intensively.

"Blitz" is the shorter, more general word for a sudden, intense attack or burst of concentrated effort, while "blitzkrieg" specifically denotes a fast, coordinated military offensive combining speed and force. In everyday English, "blitz" is used far more broadly, including non-military contexts like a cleaning blitz or marketing blitz.

"Blitz" is commonly used as a verb or noun to describe completing a task very quickly and intensively, such as doing a "cleaning blitz" of a house or a company launching an "advertising blitz." This figurative use keeps the sense of speed and concentrated effort without any military meaning.

"Blitz" is informal and conversational, common in everyday speech, journalism, and marketing, but not typically used in formal or technical writing. It works well for emphasizing speed and intensity in a casual tone.