# zoom

/ˈzum/ (US) · /zˈuːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/zoom
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to move fast

verb · CEFR B1

to move very quickly, often with a humming sound.

For teachers: to move at high speed, typically accompanied by a low-pitched humming or buzzing sound.

- The racing cars zoomed past the crowd at incredible speeds.
- The motorbike zoomed through the narrow alleyway, leaving a trail of dust and a fading roar behind it.

### 2. to magnify an image

verb · CEFR B1

to make a picture or a part of a screen look larger or smaller.

For teachers: to adjust the focal length of a lens or manipulate a digital display to change the magnification of an image.

- You can zoom in on the map to see the street names more clearly.
- The photographer zoomed in to capture the intricate details of the flower's petals without disturbing the insect resting there.

Usage: Usually used with 'in' to make larger or 'out' to see more of the scene.

### 3. video calling

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to have a meeting or talk with someone using video software on a computer.

For teachers: to communicate via video teleconferencing, specifically using the Zoom platform or similar software.

- We can zoom tomorrow morning to discuss the holiday plans.
- The team decided to zoom every Monday morning to ensure everyone remained aligned on the project's shifting priorities.

Usage: Often used as an intransitive verb or with a direct object.

Teaching tip: While 'Zoom' is a brand name, it is now commonly used as a generic verb for any video call, similar to 'Skype' or 'Google'.

### 4. camera feature

noun · CEFR B1

a camera lens or setting that makes distant objects look closer.

For teachers: an optical or digital facility for changing the magnification of an image.

- This phone has a powerful zoom that takes great photos of birds.
- The camera's optical zoom allowed the journalist to document the event from a distance without compromising image quality.

### 5. video meeting

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a meeting held over a video call.

For teachers: an instance of a video teleconference, particularly one conducted on the Zoom platform.

- I have another zoom at three o'clock, so I'll be busy then.
- After a long day of back-to-back zooms, the employees were suffering from significant digital fatigue.

### 6. fast movement

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal

a word used to describe something moving very quickly.

For teachers: an onomatopoeic exclamation used to represent or suggest rapid motion or a sudden increase.

- He finished his homework and — zoom — he was out the door.
- The magician waved his hand and, zoom, the rabbit had vanished before the audience could even blink.

## Examples

- The camera has a powerful zoom for taking nature photos.
- I had to use the digital zoom to read the street sign from across the park.
- While a physical zoom lens maintains image quality by adjusting glass elements, a digital zoom merely crops and enlarges pixels, often resulting in a noticeable loss of resolution.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.