verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

zoom

Zoom (verb) means to move very quickly, often with a humming or rushing sound. Example: “The motorbike zoomed past us on the motorway.”

verb

To move very quickly, often with a humming or rushing sound.

"The motorbike zoomed past us on the motorway."

"Prices zoomed upward after the announcement."

To adjust a camera or screen view to make something appear larger or smaller.

"Zoom in on the photo to read the small print."

To take part in a video call, especially using the Zoom platform.

"We zoomed with the whole family over the holidays."

noun

The act or sound of moving very fast.

"There was a zoom and a flash as the car sped by."

How to use zoom

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo move fast, to magnify something on a screen, or (informally) to have a video call.

Common pairings

zoom in zoom past zoom lens

Word forms

zoomed past tense, zoomed past tense, zooms plural, zooms plural, zooms singular, zooms singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The motorbike _____ past us on the motorway.

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, possibly related to Scots and dialectal English words like "soom" or "sweem," meaning to buzz, hum, or spin rapidly.

Synonyms

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speed dash rush whiz

Related words

line run hit leave space rate kill attack

Rhymes for zoom

oom boom room doom loom groom broom bloom gloom vroom kaboom bedroom

See all rhymes for zoom →

Frequently asked questions

What does “zoom” mean?

The word “zoom” means to move very quickly, often with a humming or rushing sound. In plain terms, to move fast, to magnify something on a screen, or (informally) to have a video call.

How do you pronounce “zoom”?

“Zoom” is pronounced zoom (/zuːm/ in IPA).

How do you use “zoom” in a sentence?

Here is “zoom” used in a sentence: “The motorbike zoomed past us on the motorway.”

What part of speech is “zoom”?

Depending on how it is used, “zoom” can be a verb and a noun.

Is “zoom” a common word?

“Zoom” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “zoom” have?

“Zoom” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move very quickly, often with a humming or rushing sound.

What is the difference between zoom meaning to move fast and zoom meaning to adjust a camera view?

As a movement verb, zoom means to move very quickly, often with a humming or rushing sound. As a camera or screen term, zoom means to adjust the view so something appears larger or smaller, an unrelated technical meaning.

Is "zoom" used to mean a video call always referring to the Zoom platform?

Using zoom as a verb to mean taking part in a video call specifically references the Zoom platform, though informally people sometimes extend it loosely to video calls in general. Strictly speaking, the meaning is tied to that specific service.

Can zoom be used as a noun?

Yes, zoom can be a noun referring to the act or sound of moving very fast, as in "the car passed with a zoom." This noun usage is less common than the verb forms.

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Words that end with M Words that start with Z

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