zoom

1.nounB1

Definition

a widely used video-conferencing service through which individuals and groups can see and hear one another in real time across various digital devices connected to the internet

Example

The Watanabe family uses Zoom every Sunday to talk with relatives in Osaka.

collocation: use Zoom + [purpose]

Our school moved all classes onto Zoom during the winter break.

Common collocations

on Zoom
via Zoom
Zoom link
Zoom meeting
Zoom call

Synonyms

video-conferencing software
generic term; Zoom is one specific brand
video-calling app
broader category that includes Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.

Grammar Patterns

on Zoom

via Zoom

Usage Note

Capitalized as a brand name in formal writing, but frequently lowercased in informal use.

Common Mistakes

I will zoom you the document.

I will send you the document on Zoom.

Zoom is a platform name, not a verb for sending files.

2.nounB2

Definition

a camera or microscope lens that can change focal length smoothly, making the subject appear closer or farther away without needing to swap lenses

Example

Vikram attached a zoom lens to his camera before the wildlife trip.

collocation: attach a zoom lens to [device]

Modern smartphone cameras include a built-in zoom lens for closer shots.

Common collocations

zoom lens
built-in zoom
optical zoom
digital zoom
zoom range

Synonyms

variable-focal-length lens
technical term for a zoom lens in optics and engineering
telephoto zoom
a zoom lens designed for distant subjects

Antonyms

prime lens
a lens with fixed focal length that does not zoom

Grammar Patterns

a zoom lens

with a zoom lens

Usage Note

Commonly contrasted with a 'prime lens' (fixed focal length) in photography discussions.

Common Mistakes

I need a zoom for my phone.

I need a zoom lens for my phone.

The full term 'zoom lens' is preferred in formal contexts.

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to travel or rush somewhere very fast, frequently producing a buzz or hum as a result of the speed

Example

Yuna zoomed past the other runners on the final lap of the race.

pattern: zoom past + [person/thing]

A police car zoomed down the highway with its lights flashing.

Common collocations

zoom past
zoom down
zoom around
zoom through
zoom off
zoom along

Synonyms

speed
more neutral and general; lacks the buzzing-sound connotation of zoom
whizz
very similar to zoom, often used for smooth fast motion with a sound
dash
suggests a short, sudden burst of speed toward a destination
race
implies competition or trying to beat a time

Antonyms

crawl
to move extremely slowly
creep
to move slowly and carefully

Grammar Patterns

zoom + adverb/preposition (past / down / around / off / through)

Usage Note

Frequently paired with a direction word (past, down, around, through, off) to indicate the path of movement.

Common Mistakes

The car zoomed slowly through the traffic.

The car zoomed through the traffic.

'Zoom' already implies high speed, so 'slowly' contradicts it.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to rise dramatically in a short period, used especially of financial figures, market prices, sales figures, or numerical values

Example

Stock prices zoomed after the company announced a new product launch.

subject: prices / shares + zoom

The cost of fresh fruit zoomed during the winter months last year.

Common collocations

prices zoom
sales zoom
costs zoom
zoom higher
zoom to record levels

Synonyms

soar
suggests a continuous upward climb; often used with prices and temperatures
skyrocket
emphasizes an extremely rapid and dramatic rise, stronger than zoom
surge
implies a powerful forward rush, often used for demand or electricity
shoot up
informal phrasal verb meaning to increase very quickly

Antonyms

plummet
to fall or drop suddenly and by a large amount
plunge
to decrease sharply and unexpectedly

Grammar Patterns

prices / sales / values zoom

Usage Note

Subject is almost always a numerical quantity — prices, costs, sales, profits, values, or rates. Not used for small or gradual increases.

Common Mistakes

My salary zoomed by one percent.

My salary increased slightly.

Zoom implies a large, sudden jump, not a small rise.

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2

Definition

to join or hold a live video conversation over the internet using the Zoom application, typically for work, school, or social contact

Example

Jiwoo zooms with her study group every Tuesday evening before the exam.

pattern: zoom with + [person/group]

Our team zoomed the client for a quick update on the project progress.

transitive use: zoom + [person]

Common collocations

zoom with
zoom someone
zoom into
zoom in on
zoom together

Synonyms

video-call
generic term for any video conversation, not brand-specific
FaceTime
Apple's video-calling service; similarly used as a verb for Apple users

Grammar Patterns

zoom with + person

zoom + person

zoom into + event

Usage Note

Technically a brand name used as a verb; increasingly common in informal and workplace English. Transitive use ('zoom someone') is informal.

Common Mistakes

Let's zoom about the project later.

Let's Zoom about the project later.' or 'Let's talk on Zoom about the project later.

'Zoom about' is not a standard pattern; use 'Zoom about' is not idiomatic.

4.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to adjust the focal length of a camera, microscope, or other optical device so that the target image grows larger or smaller while staying in clear focus

Example

Mark zoomed the camera lens until the distant lighthouse filled the frame.

pattern: zoom + [device] lens

The biologist zoomed the microscope in to examine the tiny bacteria.

pattern: zoom [device] in/out

Common collocations

zoom in
zoom out
zoom in on
zoom the lens
zoom the camera

Synonyms

adjust the focal length
technical phrasing; more formal than zoom
magnify
to make something appear larger, but without the smooth transition of a zoom lens

Antonyms

fix the focal length
to keep the lens at a single focal length without zooming

Grammar Patterns

zoom + lens/device + in/out

zoom in/out

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'focus': zoom changes the image size (closer or farther), while focus adjusts sharpness. The object is typically the lens or device, not the target.

Common Mistakes

Zoom the bird with your camera.

Zoom in on the bird with your camera.

Use 'zoom in on' when the target is the object of the action.

Phrasal verbs

zoom in

phrasal verb

To make something appear larger by adjusting a camera or screen view.

Maya zoomed in on the map to see the street names.

Can you zoom in on that tiny bird in the photo?

zoom out

phrasal verb

To make something appear smaller by adjusting a camera or screen view.

Diego zoomed out to show the entire city on the screen.

Please zoom out so we can see the whole graph.

Word family

zooming
nounB2
zoomable
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Zoom, dash, race, speed, and whizz all describe fast movement, but each carries a distinct tone. Dash suggests a short, urgent burst toward a specific goal — 'She dashed to the store before it closed.' Race implies speed driven by competition or a deadline — 'He raced to finish the report before the meeting.' Speed is the most neutral and flexible, simply meaning to go fast — 'The car sped down the empty road.' Whizz, like zoom, suggests smooth, rapid motion often accompanied by a sound — 'The train whizzed past the platform.' Zoom stands out for its lively, playful quality. It often describes visible movement with a low buzzing or humming sound, such as a scooter, drone, or car moving at high speed. Unlike dash, which implies purpose, zoom can be purely about the thrill of speed — 'The kids zoomed around the park on their new scooters just for fun.'

dash ↗race ↗speed ↗whizz

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

zoom in
zoom out
zoom in on

Prepositions

Etymology

Onomatopoeia (English)English (verb)English (photography)English (brand name)

Zoom originated in the late 1800s as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates the low buzzing or humming sound of something moving very fast. The verb sense 'to move quickly with a buzzing sound' appeared around the 1890s. In the 1930s, camera engineers borrowed the word for the 'zoom lens', which makes the image appear to rush toward or away from the viewer. The video-conferencing service Zoom was launched in 2011; its name was chosen to suggest fast, easy connection between people.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

zoophilia

zoom

zoom — noun

1. a widely used video-conferencing service through which individuals and groups ca

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a camera or microscope lens that can change focal length smoothly, making the su

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

zoom — verb

1. to travel or rush somewhere very fast, frequently producing a buzz or hum as a r

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to rise dramatically in a short period, used especially of financial figures, ma

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to join or hold a live video conversation over the internet using the Zoom appli

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. to adjust the focal length of a camera, microscope, or other optical device so t

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

zoom in

zoom out

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near