blend into

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   to look or seem so similar to what is around you that people do not notice you separately.

   Grammar: Takes an object: blend into the background. The object usually comes after 'into'.

   Patterns

   • blend into something
   • blend into the background
   • blend into the crowd

   The chameleon can blend into the leaves so well that you might not see it at all.

   Wearing plain clothes helped the photographer blend into the busy market.

   New students often try to blend into the group during the first week.

2. 2verbintransitive

   to combine with something else so smoothly that the join is not easy to see.

   Grammar: No object; often used about colors, sounds, or tastes that become part of a whole.

   Patterns

   • blend into something
   • colors blend into each other

   The blue of the sky seemed to blend into the gray of the sea at the horizon.

   Her quiet laugh blended into the music playing in the next room.

Common combinations

blend into the background

He chose a dark coat so he would blend into the background.

blend into the crowd

The spy needed to blend into the crowd at the station.

blend into the scenery

The cabin is designed to blend into the scenery.

blend into each other

The days began to blend into each other during the long summer.

blend into the night

The black cat blended into the night and disappeared.

Synonyms and how they differ

merge

Merge is more formal and often suggests two things joining to become one, while blend into stresses becoming unnoticeable against a background.

fade into

Fade into suggests a gradual loss of clear shape or sound, often used for images or memories; blend into is more about matching what is around you.

disappear into

Disappear into means going out of sight completely, often quickly; blend into means staying visible but not standing out.

Opposites

Word family

blend verb

To mix things together, or to become mixed.

blend noun

A mixture of things, especially drinks or teas.

blender noun

An electric machine for mixing soft food or drinks.

Commonly confused: blend into or blend in?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “blend into”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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