boom

[ boom ]

/ bum /

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See synonyms for: boom / boomed / booming on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to make a deep, prolonged, resonant sound.

to move with a resounding rush or great impetus.

to progress, grow, or flourish vigorously, as a business or a city: Her business is booming since she enlarged the store.

verb (used with object)

to give forth with a booming sound (often followed by out): The clock boomed out nine.

to boost; campaign for vigorously: His followers are booming George for mayor.

noun

a deep, prolonged, resonant sound.

the resonant cry of a bird or animal.

a buzzing, humming, or droning, as of a bee or beetle.

a rapid increase in price, development, numbers, etc.: a boom in housing construction.

a period of rapid economic growth, prosperity, high wages and prices, and relatively full employment.

a rise in popularity, as of a political candidate.

adjective

caused by or characteristic of a boom: boom prices.

OTHER WORDS FOR boom

3 flourish, prosper, thrive, develop.

See synonyms for boom on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of boom

First recorded in 1400–50; 1910–15 for def. 10; late Middle English bombon, bummyn “to buzz”; cognate with Dutch bommen, German bummen; imitative of the sound

OTHER WORDS FROM boom

boom·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for boom (2 of 2)

boom²

[ boom ]

/ bum /

noun

Nautical. any of various more or less horizontal spars or poles for extending the feet of sails, especially fore-and-aft sails, for handling cargo, suspending mooring lines alongside a vessel, pushing a vessel away from wharves, etc.

Aeronautics.

an outrigger used on certain aircraft for connecting the tail surfaces to the fuselage.
a maneuverable and retractable pipe on a tanker aircraft for refueling another aircraft in flight.
chord¹ (def. 4).

a chain, cable, series of connected floating timbers, or the like, serving to obstruct navigation, confine floating timber, etc.

the area thus shut off.

Machinery. a spar or beam projecting from the mast of a derrick for supporting or guiding the weights to be lifted.

(on a motion-picture or television stage) a spar or beam on a mobile crane for holding or manipulating a microphone or camera.

verb (used with object)

to extend or position, as a sail (usually followed by out or off).

to manipulate (an object) by or as by means of a crane or derrick.

verb (used without object)

to sail at full speed.

Origin of boom

First recorded in 1660–65; from Dutch: literally, “tree, pole”; see origin at beam

OTHER WORDS FROM boom

boomless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use boom in a sentence

After six months of financial hardship, including a delayed start to summer travel, some hope a fall boom will compensate for lost business.
Pick Your Poison|Nick Mancall-Bitel|September 3, 2020|Eater
We live in a time of booming tech stocks and tech-driven social transformation so profound that even professional thinkers struggle to process it.
HBO’s new sex cult doc has big lessons for investors|dzanemorris|September 2, 2020|Fortune
The Zurich-based bank’s latest earnings point to other successes in its Asia push, with net new assets in the region’s private banking business swelling by 80% in the second quarter amid a trading boom.
Credit Suisse aims to double its headcount in China in 5 years|Claire Zillman, reporter|August 31, 2020|Fortune
Coming as a surprise to no one, with in-person stores closed, online shopping has been booming and Amazon and Walmart are two online marketplaces that are reaping the rewards.
‘E-commerce is expensive’: How invisible technology and infrastructure overhauls will save retail|Kayleigh Barber|August 31, 2020|Digiday

In some respects, Madoff is the godfather of today’s retail trading boom.
How Ponzi mastermind Bernie Madoff enabled the US retail trading boom|John Detrixhe|August 30, 2020|Quartz
There are times when economies are booming, but people continue to fall through the cracks.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain|Rich Goldstein|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the stock market is booming but overwhelmingly Americans are unhappy with their economic situation—and for good reason.
Voters Remind D.C. That the Economy Still Sucks|Stuart Stevens|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her voice, booming and soulful, capturing the attention of every ear in the theater, confirms what she is capable of.
The Swedish Queen of Soulful Pop: Mapei Won’t Wait for You to Listen|Caitlin Dickson|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You know, you ask a lot of questions,” says the security guard in a booming voice.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con|Sujay Kumar|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rooftop solar—individual homeowners putting generating systems on their roofs—is also booming in Arizona.
Panel Discussion|The Daily Beast|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They're loaded, you see, and they go booming along as innocently as you please; but if you touch 'em—why, 'There you aren't!'
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Returning to Bithoor the Nana was proclaimed Peishwa amid the booming of cannon and the plaudits of his retainers.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
They also made good use of their field-pieces, and ever and anon the booming of cannon was heard in the streets of Manila.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
His deep eyes took it all in, and then he announced in his booming voice from far above us.
Nine Men in Time|Noel Miller Loomis
"We need something to do," they said, all in that great booming voice that seemed to come from the ceiling.
Nine Men in Time|Noel Miller Loomis

British Dictionary definitions for boom (1 of 2)

boom¹

/ (buːm) /

verb

to make a deep prolonged resonant sound, as of thunder or artillery fire

to prosper or cause to prosper vigorously and rapidlybusiness boomed

noun

a deep prolonged resonant soundthe boom of the sea

the cry of certain animals, esp the bittern

a period of high economic growth characterized by rising wages, profits, and prices, full employment, and high levels of investment, trade, and other economic activityCompare depression (def. 5)

any similar period of high activity

the activity itselfa baby boom

Word Origin for boom

C15: perhaps from Dutch bommen, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for boom (2 of 2)

boom²

/ (buːm) /

noun

nautical a spar to which a sail is fastened to control its position relative to the wind

a beam or spar pivoting at the foot of the mast of a derrick, controlling the distance from the mast at which a load is lifted or lowered

a pole, usually extensible, carrying an overhead microphone and projected over a film or television set

a barrier across a waterway, usually consisting of a chain of connected floating logs, to confine free-floating logs, protect a harbour from attack, etc
the area so barred off

Word Origin for boom

C16: from Dutch boom tree, beam

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with boom

boom

see lower the boom.

boom

OTHER WORDS FOR boom

Origin of boom

OTHER WORDS FROM boom

Other definitions for boom (2 of 2)

Origin of boom

OTHER WORDS FROM boom

Words related to boom

How to use boom in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boom (1 of 2)

Word Origin for boom

British Dictionary definitions for boom (2 of 2)

Word Origin for boom

Other Idioms and Phrases with boom