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• zoom
  zoom

  verb (used without object)

  to move quickly or suddenly with a loud humming or buzzing sound.
• Zoom
  Zoom

  a brand name for a software application and online service that enables voice and video phone calls over the internet.

zoom

¹ American  

[zoom] / zum /

verb (used without object)

1. to move quickly or suddenly with a loud humming or buzzing sound.

   cars zooming by on the freeway.

   Synonyms:

   flash, streak, speed, buzz

2. to fly an airplane suddenly and sharply upward at great speed for a short distance, as in regaining altitude, clearing an obstacle, or signaling.

3. Movies, Television. to bring a subject, scene, etc., into closeup or cause it to recede into a long shot using a zoom lens and while maintaining focus.

4. Informal. to increase or rise suddenly and sharply.

   Rents would zoom without rent control laws.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause (an airplane) to zoom.

2. to fly over (an obstacle) by zooming.

noun

• zooms
  plural

1. the act or process of zooming.

2. a zooming sound.

3. Informal. zoom lens.

4. Also called zoom shot. Movies, Television. a shot in which a subject, scene, or action is brought closer or made to recede by the use of a zoom lens.

verb phrase

1. zoom in (on)

   1. to bring (a subject, scene, etc.) into closeup by using a zoom lens.

      to zoom in for a look at the injured man; to zoom in on a candidate at a political convention.

   2. to examine more closely or in greater detail; focus on.

      The panel zoomed in on the subject of abortion.

Zoom ² American  

[zoom] / zum /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a software application and online service that enables voice and video phone calls over the internet.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to participate in a real-time conversation with (one or more people) using Zoom.

   Yesterday the kids Zoomed their grandparents in Florida.

   We Zoom with remote staff during our Friday meetings.

zoom British  

/ zuːm /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a continuous buzzing or humming sound

2. to move or cause to move with such a sound

3. (intr) to move very rapidly; rush

   we zoomed through town

4. to cause (an aircraft) to climb briefly at an unusually steep angle, or (of an aircraft) to climb in this way

5. (intr) (of prices) to rise rapidly

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noun

1. the sound or act of zooming

2. See zoom lens

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• zooms
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of zoom¹

First recorded in 1885–90; imitative

Origin of Zoom²

First recorded in 2010–15; shortening of Zoom Video Communications

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Explanation

Zoom zoom! This is a word for things moving quickly, either up or in a line. When you hear zoom, think fast. Zoom is a word that can be a sound effect, a noun, or a verb. In comic books, you might see a spaceship taking off with a word bubble saying ZOOM!. Fast cars can zoom; airplanes can zoom. You could say, "In one zoom, we were in the air!" Zooming can also mean to move while making a low humming noise that sounds like zoom. Like boom, zoom is a fun word: it's hard to say Zoom zoom! and be in a bad mood.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zoom Zoom zooms

The title of the limited run has yet to be announced, but Dunham did ask her fellow cast on the mock zoom call, "can we still call it Girls?"

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Tractors zoom around, fallen nuts are collected, and trucks cart off the bins of almonds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

So we tend to over include because we haven’t thought about the purpose of the zoom and determined who really needs to be part of that process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Others zoom in on parts of the costume and post conspiracy theories about Mike Myers, who played the character in the 2003 film, being trapped inside.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

The Planck formula did not zoom off to infinity as the wavelength decreased; instead of having the energy get bigger and bigger as the wavelength goes down, it got smaller and smaller again.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Caroline prefers to discuss business through email, Facebook Messenger or Zoom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

But I also get some dirt under my fingernails with Zoom calls, brainstorms, writing and pitching.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

When we speak to Dr Sim over Zoom from her home, her two dogs are curled up in their beds at her feet.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

That’s what we did in our recent Zoom conversation about the mythic creator, writer and actor who has haunted us for most of a century by changing TV for the better.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

The rabbi wants the Zoom connection to be online and running before the service starts so no one has to fiddle with electronics during a Sabbath service.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

The Extend button zooms out on close-ups, generating visuals to fill the empty space.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

After some back and forth, McElwee relented, letting Adrian try his slow zooms and dynamic shots.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

The camera then zooms into Beddoes' face and he pushes it away.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

In the moments LeBron James zooms out to realize his son is playing, he marvels at his oldest child’s attention to detail, improvements on the ball and defensive mindset.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

You might have noticed that when a train zooms by, the pitch of its horn changes.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

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