B2 noun Neutral

blackout

/ˈblæk.aʊt/

A blackout refers to a temporary loss of electrical power over an area or a sudden failure of memory or consciousness in an individual. It can also describe a period of censorship where information or news is intentionally suppressed by an authority.

Ejemplos

3 de 5
1

The heavy storm caused a total blackout in our neighborhood for several hours last night.

The severe weather led to a complete loss of electricity in the local area for a duration of time.

2

The military command issued a strict news blackout during the high-stakes rescue operation.

The army ordered a ban on all media reports while the important mission was taking place.

3

I had a complete blackout after the party and couldn't remember how I got home.

I experienced a total loss of memory following the social event and lacked recollection of the journey.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
blackout
Verb
black out
Adjetivo
blacked-out
Relacionado
darkness
💡

Truco para recordar

Think of a 'black' screen when the power is 'out'. Everything goes black and stays out.

Quiz rápido

The city was plunged into a ____ after the main power station was struck by lightning.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: blackout

Ejemplos

1

The heavy storm caused a total blackout in our neighborhood for several hours last night.

everyday

The severe weather led to a complete loss of electricity in the local area for a duration of time.

2

The military command issued a strict news blackout during the high-stakes rescue operation.

formal

The army ordered a ban on all media reports while the important mission was taking place.

3

I had a complete blackout after the party and couldn't remember how I got home.

informal

I experienced a total loss of memory following the social event and lacked recollection of the journey.

4

Sociological studies often analyze the correlation between an extended blackout and changes in urban crime rates.

academic

Academic research explores the link between long power failures and shifts in criminal activity in cities.

5

To prevent leaks, the CEO requested a temporary communication blackout regarding the merger.

business

The executive asked for a pause in all company messages about the business deal to stop secrets from spreading.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
blackout
Verb
black out
Adjetivo
blacked-out
Relacionado
darkness

Colocaciones comunes

total blackout a complete loss of all light or power
news blackout a period when no news is allowed to be released
rolling blackout intentionally engineered electrical outages distributed across different areas
experience a blackout to go through a period of power loss or memory loss
temporary blackout a short-lived period of darkness or suppression

Frases Comunes

media blackout

a situation where no information is given to the press

information blackout

the deliberate withholding of knowledge or facts

stage blackout

turning off all lights in a theater between scenes

Se confunde a menudo con

blackout vs brownout

A brownout is a partial drop in voltage, while a blackout is a complete loss of power.

blackout vs faint

A faint is the physical act of losing consciousness, whereas a blackout can also refer to electricity or censorship.

📝

Notas de uso

Use 'blackout' as a single word for the noun; use 'black out' as two words for the verb (e.g., 'I might black out'). It is versatile, applying to electricity, medical states, and journalism.

⚠️

Errores comunes

Learners often use the verb form 'black out' when they need the noun 'blackout'. They might also confuse it with 'darkness', which is a state, whereas a blackout is an event.

💡

Truco para recordar

Think of a 'black' screen when the power is 'out'. Everything goes black and stays out.

📖

Origen de la palabra

Originally used in the theater in the 1910s for turning off lights; became widely used during WWII to describe extinguishing lights to hide from enemy bombers.

Patrones gramaticales

Countable noun Plural form: blackouts Often follows verbs like 'cause', 'order', or 'suffer'
🌍

Contexto cultural

During World War II, 'blackouts' were mandatory procedures in cities like London to prevent enemy aircraft from identifying targets by their lights.

Quiz rápido

The city was plunged into a ____ after the main power station was struck by lightning.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: blackout

Palabras relacionadas

unknown

A1

A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.

of

A1

A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.

in

A1

A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.

it

A1

A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.

on

A1

A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.

as

A1

A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.

this

A1

Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.

by

A1

A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.

we

A1

The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.

or

A1

A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.

¿Te ha servido?
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!

Empieza a aprender idiomas gratis

Empieza Gratis