zero in on
Idioms-
Aim precisely at a target, as in They zeroed in on the last snipers . [c. 1940]
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Direct one's attention to, concentrate or focus on, as in We must zero in on the exact combination of ingredients , or The whole class zeroed in on the new assignment . This usage transfers aiming a firearm to directing one's attention. [Mid-1900s]
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Converge on, close in on, as in The children zeroed in on the electric train display . [Mid-1900s]
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.
“Breathe, zero in on your target, OK, now smooth …,” she said, hovering over one attendee.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
Season 3 “finally starts to zero in on what feels like it might be the show’s core story,” explains Slate’s Sam Adams.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026
His office would zero in on guns with a short “time to crime” from the initial sale and see if investigators could build leads from purchase records.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
But some companies to zero in on are those using AI, not building it.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
I keep running and zero in on that camo trucker hat.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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.
