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Added 9 October 2026

zoom

/zuːm/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about zoom at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A rapid rise.
The act of rising upward into the air.

verb

Move along very quickly.
Move with a low humming noise.
Rise rapidly.
the dollar soared against the yen

Origin

Uncertain. The verb was first attested c. 1892, as a noun in 1918 and as an interjection in 1942. Apparently related to Scots soom (“to buzz, hum”), dialectal English and Scots soom, swoom, sweem (“to spin or twirl at high speed”). Compare also dialectal English sweem (“to swoon, become dizzy or faint”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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