loom

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlüm 

: a frame or machine for interlacing (see interlace sense 1) at right angles two or more sets of threads or yarns to form a cloth

loom

2 of 3

verb

loomed; looming; looms

intransitive verb

1

: to come into sight in enlarged or distorted and indistinct form often as a result of atmospheric conditions

Storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

2

a

: to appear in an impressively great or exaggerated form

deficits loomed large

b

: to take shape as an impending occurrence

the problems that loomed ahead

loom

3 of 3

noun (2)

: the indistinct and exaggerated appearance of something seen on the horizon or through fog or darkness

also : a looming shadow or reflection

Synonyms of loom

Verb

• brew
• impend

Examples of loom in a Sentence

Verb

Storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

The mountains loom above the valley.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Vernon mills that have been out of service for decades loom over East Main Street just blocks from the village center, and local officials have been working since 2015 to turn them from urban blight into productive housing. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, the threat of devastating wildfires looms. —ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026

Verb

These reforms, targeted mainly at commercial and industrial buildings in dense downtowns, largely missed the looming crisis in suburban residential areas that were slowly building themselves into a different kind of tinderbox that burned from the outside in. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026

However, secrets and drama looming at the edges of the dinner table spill over into conversation accidentally, dividing the friend group and causing certain friendships and relationships to get a closer look under the microscope. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English lome tool, loom, from Old English gelōma tool; akin to Middle Dutch allame tool

Verb and Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing loom

• Jacquard loom
• loom large

Rhymes for loom

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

loom

1 of 2 noun

ˈlüm 

: a frame or machine for weaving threads or yarns to produce cloth

loom

2 of 2 verb

1

: to appear suddenly and often with a large, dim, or strange form

loomed out of the fog

2

: to be about to happen