loom

loom — verb

1. A large shape or object that looms appears suddenly and in an unclear way, often

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

A large shape or object that looms appears suddenly and in an unclear way, often so that people feel frightened or threatened because they cannot see it clearly.

Example

A dark figure loomed out of the fog, making Xiu freeze in fear.

loom + out of [fog/darkness]

The castle walls loomed above the travellers as they reached the gate.

loom + above [something]

Common collocations
  • loom out of the fog/mist/darkness
  • loom above/over someone/something
  • loom ahead
Synonyms
  • emerge

    suggests coming out from behind something, without the frightening or unclear quality

  • materialise

    implies appearing suddenly, often out of nowhere; more neutral in tone

Antonyms
  • disappear

    opposite of coming into view

  • recede

    moving away and becoming less visible

Grammar Patterns

loom + adverb/preposition phrase

loom + out of/above/over/ahead

Usage Note

Typically followed by a preposition or adverb of direction (out of, above, over, ahead) that indicates where or how the object appears.

Common Mistakes

A ship loomed me in the distance.
A ship loomed out of the distance.
Loom is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

2. If you say that an unwelcome event is looming, you mean it is approaching quickl

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

If you say that an unwelcome event is looming, you mean it is approaching quickly and you cannot stop feeling anxious about it.

Example

With final exams looming, Ingrid spent every evening at the library.

loom (intransitive, no complement)

The threat of job cuts loomed over the entire factory for months.

loom + over [people/place]

Common collocations
  • loom large
  • loom ahead
  • loom on the horizon
  • looming crisis/deadline/threat/election
Synonyms
  • approach

    neutral; can be used for both good and bad events

  • threaten

    stronger sense of potential harm; can take an object ('threatens to…')

  • impend

    very formal; almost exclusively used in formal or literary writing

Antonyms
  • recede

    move further away into the future

  • fade

    become less likely or less threatening

Grammar Patterns

loom

loom + ahead

loom large

Usage Note

The subject is usually an unwanted event such as a deadline, crisis, war, threat, or exam. Frequently appears in the phrase 'loom large', meaning something is very important and causing worry.

Common Mistakes

A birthday party looms next week.
A deadline looms next week.
Loom is used only for unpleasant or worrying events, not for happy occasions.
The storm looms threatening.
The storm looms.' or 'The storm looms ahead.
Loom is not normally followed by an adjective describing the event.
Idioms

loom large

idiom

To be very noticeable, important, or worrying in a particular situation, often dominating people's thoughts or attention.

The issue of climate change looms large in the minds of young voters.

Her father's illness loomed large over every family decision that year.

loom — noun

Word family

  • looming
    adjectiveB1
  • loomed
    verb (past tense)B2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words describe something that is getting closer, but they differ in tone and use. 'Approach' is neutral and can apply to any event, good or bad ('the wedding approached'). 'Threaten' carries a stronger sense of harm or danger and can take an object ('the storm threatened the coast'). 'Impend' is very formal and almost exclusively literary; you will rarely hear it in conversation. 'Draw near' is slightly more poetic and often implies a gradual process. In everyday English, 'loom' (sense 2) is the best choice when you want to emphasise that an unwelcome event is becoming unavoidable and causing anxiety. For example: 'With exams looming, she stopped going out' feels more urgent than 'With exams approaching, she stopped going out.'

approach ↗threaten ↗impenddraw near

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • loom large
  • loom ahead
  • loom on the horizon
  • loom in the distance

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld Norse (likely)English

The noun 'loom' (a weaving machine) comes from Old English 'gelōma', meaning 'a tool or implement'. The verb 'loom' has a different history — it may come from an old Scandinavian word meaning 'to move slowly', and entered English in East Anglian dialects around the 16th century, originally describing the shadowy appearance of ships or land through sea mist. Over time it developed the figurative meaning of an approaching threat.