occlude

verb

oc·​clude ə-ˈklüd How to pronounce occlude (audio)
ä-
occluded; occluding
Synonyms of occlude

transitive verb

1
: to close up or block off : obstruct
a thrombus occluding a coronary artery
also : conceal
cosmetics that occlude pores
2
: sorb
Palladium occludes large volumes of hydrogen.

intransitive verb

1
: to come into contact with cusps of the opposing teeth fitting together
His teeth do not occlude properly.
2
: to become occluded

Synonyms of occlude

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Examples of occlude in a Sentence

a blood clot had occluded a major artery in his body
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As with everything, such a stunt and the Epstein files disappear, occluded by the crise du jour. — Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 16 Mar. 2026 The fog occluded vision beyond a hundred metres—a distance that polar bears can cover in about ten seconds. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 There’s so much that has been occluded by the broad-brush depiction of the eighties as the awful age of Reagan, yuppies, shoulder pads, mullets, and synth-drums. — Literary Hub, 1 June 2026 However, this approach isn’t ideal in agricultural settings, when branches are likely to occlude the visual sensors. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for occlude

Word History

Etymology

Latin occludere, from ob- in the way + claudere to shut, close — more at close entry 1

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of occlude was in 1581

Rhymes for occlude

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Browse Nearby Words

Occleve
occlude
occluded front
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Occlude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occlude. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

occlude

verb
oc·​clude ə-ˈklüd How to pronounce occlude (audio)
ä-
occluded; occluding
1
: to close up or block off
2
: to take up and hold by absorption or adsorption
3
: to come together with opposing surfaces in contact
the teeth do not occlude properly

Medical Definition

occlude

verb
oc·​clude ə-ˈklüd, ä- How to pronounce occlude (audio)
occluded; occluding

transitive verb

1
: to close up or block off : obstruct
a thrombus occluding a coronary artery
2
: to bring (upper and lower teeth) into occlusion
3
: to take in and retain (a substance) in the interior rather than on an external surface : sorb
proteins in precipitating may occlude alcohol

intransitive verb

1
: to come into contact with cusps of the opposing teeth fitting together
his teeth do not occlude properly
2
: to become occluded
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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