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Synonyms

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.

verb (used with object)

  1. to cause (an airplane) to zoom.

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

noun

  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.

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

"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

noun

  1. the sound or act of zooming

  2. See zoom lens

"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

Etymology

Origin of zoom1

First recorded in 1885–90; imitative

Origin of Zoom2

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

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.

But zooming out, investors were left to wonder if the company’s advertising-business model would be subject to stricter regulation.

From MarketWatch

A Toyota Voxy minivan with tinted windows slid behind Ashaal’s SUV, then gave a burst of speed to zoom ahead and block his path.

From Los Angeles Times

First, it’s worth zooming out at the broader backdrop.

From MarketWatch

This allowed scientists to zoom in on and analyze individual regions where stars are actively forming.

From Science Daily

The new release zoomed past Scream 7, this year's previous biggest seller overall and also overtook Creed III in having the fastest start for a production by Amazon MGM Studios.

From BBC

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.