zoom
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
1
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."
"Children zoomed down the hill on their sledges, shrieking with joy."
2
To adjust a camera or screen view to make something appear larger or smaller.
"Zoom in on the photo to read the small print."
"The photographer zoomed out to fit the whole family into the picture."
"You can zoom in on the map to see individual streets."
3
To take part in a video call, especially using the Zoom platform.
"We zoomed with the whole family over the holidays."
"I zoomed with my tutor this morning because she was working from home."
"Shall we zoom tomorrow, or would you rather ring me?"
noun
1
The act or sound of moving very fast.
"There was a zoom and a flash as the car sped by."
"We heard the zoom of a passing train before it vanished."
"The toy rocket made a loud zoom across the living room floor."
How to use zoom
Learner’s notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like zoom.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- zooms
- Third person singular
- zooms
- Past tense
- zoomed
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.
Related words
Rhymes for zoom
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include zoom:
