MEANING
1. To appear suddenly as a large, indistinct, or imposing shape, especially through haze or distance.
2. To seem close or unavoidable as a future event approaches.
Use it for
Show an imposing shape emerging or an event nearing.Creates a sense of scale or approaching pressure without naming the observer’s fear.
Words that belong together
- loom through the fog
- loom above
- loom over someone
- a deadline looms
- deadline looms
- loom on the horizon
On the page
A dark freighter loomed through the harbor fog, larger with every passing second.
The deadline loomed over the entire research team.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- loom
- Past tense
- loomed
- Past participle
- loomed
- Present participle
- looming
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- loom
- Present continuous
- am/is/are looming
- Present perfect
- have/has loomed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been looming
- Past
- loomed
- Past continuous
- was/were looming
- Past perfect
- had loomed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been looming
- Future
- will loom
- Future continuous
- will be looming
- Future perfect
- will have loomed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been looming
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Often suggests size, indistinctness, or threat, but context can make the appearance neutral. Sense 2: Figurative use usually describes a threat, duty, or event that feels near and difficult to avoid.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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