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Synonyms

looming

American  
[loo-ming] / ˈlu mɪŋ /

noun

  1. a mirage in which objects below the horizon seem to be raised above their true positions.

Etymology

Origin of looming

First recorded in 1620–30; loom 2 + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The looming threat of AI has upended that formula, and it doesn’t feel fair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Consumer advocates and legal aid attorneys have been concerned for months that not enough parent borrowers are aware of this looming deadline.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

As someone who wakes up in a cold sweat every night, terrified by the looming possibility that “The Devil Wears Prada 2” may be awful, trust me: Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

With a tour looming in the summer and a first-time Coachella slot coming next month, Slayyyter is winding up for a momentous year.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

I looked at the sun looming low in the horizon.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.