blue
bloo
Blue (adjective) means having the colour of a clear daytime sky. Example: “She painted the nursery walls a soft blue.”
adjective
1
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."
"A blue umbrella stood out against the grey pavement."
2
Sad or depressed.
"He'd been feeling blue ever since the move."
"I felt a bit blue after all my friends went home."
"Rainy Mondays always make her feel blue."
noun
1
The colour itself, between green and violet on the spectrum.
"Blue is her favourite colour for interiors."
"Blue and yellow look striking together on a flag."
"The artist mixed a little white into the blue to lighten it."
2
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."
"The Blues are playing at home this weekend, so the pubs will be full."
"Fans cheered loudly whenever the Blues attacked down the left wing."
How to use blue
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
feeling blue
out of the blue
once in a blue moon
blue in the face
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Word forms
- Plural
- blues
- Third person singular
- blues
- Past tense
- blued
- Comparative
- bluer, more blue
- Superlative
- bluest, most blue
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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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Related words
Rhymes for blue
See all rhymes for blue →Frequently asked questions
What does “blue” mean?
The word “blue” means having the colour of a clear daytime sky. In plain terms, the colour blue, or — informally — a low, sad mood.
How do you pronounce “blue”?
“Blue” is pronounced bloo (/bluː/ in IPA).
How do you use “blue” in a sentence?
Here is “blue” used in a sentence: “She painted the nursery walls a soft blue.”
What is another word for “blue”?
Words with a similar meaning to “blue” include azure, cerulean, navy, sapphire, X-rated and indigo.
What is the opposite of “blue”?
The opposite of “blue” — its antonyms — are nonblue, unblue, conservative, red and Republican.
What part of speech is “blue”?
Depending on how it is used, “blue” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “blue” come from?
The word “blue” comes from Latin. 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.".
Is “blue” a common word?
“Blue” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
Why is the sky blue?
Sunlight contains all colours, and as it passes through the atmosphere, air molecules scatter the shorter blue wavelengths far more than the longer red ones. That scattered blue light reaches our eyes from all over the sky, which is why a clear daytime sky, and the colour named after it, appears blue.
What does it mean to feel blue?
Feeling blue is an informal expression meaning sad, low, or mildly down. The colour blue has long been linked with melancholy in English, giving us phrases like "the blues." So describing someone as blue usually refers to their mood, not their appearance, a gentle way of saying they are unhappy.
What colours make blue?
Blue is a primary colour, so in traditional paint mixing it cannot be made by combining other colours. Instead, blue is one of the base colours used to mix others: blend it with yellow for green, or with red for purple. In light, blue is also a primary, alongside red and green.
What are the shades of blue?
Blue ranges widely, from pale sky blue and baby blue through to navy, royal blue, and midnight blue. Named shades include azure, cobalt, teal, turquoise, and cerulean. They differ in lightness and in how much green or purple they contain, giving everything from icy pastels to deep, near-black tones.
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