: 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
loomed; looming; looms
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
: the indistinct and exaggerated appearance of something seen on the horizon or through fog or darkness
also
: a looming shadow or reflection
Synonyms
Examples of loom in a Sentence
Verb
Storm clouds loomed on the horizon.
The mountains loom above the valley.
Recent Examples on the Web
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024
This much is certain: Whoever the Chiefs do decide to pay looms as the most consequential storyline of the next few weeks.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024
March Madness is full of twists, and here’s one to ponder:
What if the Creighton-Oregon winner — the teams meet Saturday in the second round — looms as the greatest obstacle between Gonzaga and the Final Four?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Thousands of tiny neurons run axons — the brain’s transmission cables for electrical impulses — perpendicularly through the stack of dendrites, like threads in a loom.
—Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024
But a larger, trickier deadline for the rest of the government — including the Defense, State and Homeland Security departments — looms just two weeks away, and negotiators are still far apart on spending amounts and policy provisions necessary to fund those agencies.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Kenyatta has recorded video messages for his estranged daughter, which are projected on the upstage wall, and his face, big as a billboard, looms above Nina’s ugly room, his eyes as staring and huge as a god’s.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024
About 70% of Gen Z workers plan to freelance now or in the future—as layoffs surge and AI job-replacement looms, many are shifting away from traditional employment.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
It would be programmed by punch cards, like the industrial looms of the time.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
What else looms, however, is something completely out of the control of the travelers: the day’s weather.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s approval comes amid the looming expiration of a series of crucial taxes that fund the state’s Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to roughly 1 million residents.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
On an earnings call with investors last year, Iger said a looming crackdown would help Disney grow.
—Cnn, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
California Assembly Democrats have their own early action plan to shave $17 billion from the state’s looming budget deficit — but their approach differs from the one supported by Senate leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom in several ways.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
And lowering the draft age alone will not resolve Ukraine’s looming need for soldiers.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The possibility that Kansas City might lose one or both of its top two professional sports franchises loomed over two of three previous times that the Chiefs and Royals have asked voters for tax support.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Instead, Ferrell lets the uncertainty loom, like a dark cloud obscuring a rocky shoreline.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
The film uncovers the story of the crash that took the lives of so many and looms over the world of motorsports to this day.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024
This much is certain: Whoever the Chiefs do decide to pay looms as the most consequential storyline of the next few weeks.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024
March Madness is full of twists, and here’s one to ponder:
What if the Creighton-Oregon winner — the teams meet Saturday in the second round — looms as the greatest obstacle between Gonzaga and the Final Four?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Thousands of tiny neurons run axons — the brain’s transmission cables for electrical impulses — perpendicularly through the stack of dendrites, like threads in a loom.
—Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024
But a larger, trickier deadline for the rest of the government — including the Defense, State and Homeland Security departments — looms just two weeks away, and negotiators are still far apart on spending amounts and policy provisions necessary to fund those agencies.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Kenyatta has recorded video messages for his estranged daughter, which are projected on the upstage wall, and his face, big as a billboard, looms above Nina’s ugly room, his eyes as staring and huge as a god’s.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024
About 70% of Gen Z workers plan to freelance now or in the future—as layoffs surge and AI job-replacement looms, many are shifting away from traditional employment.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
It would be programmed by punch cards, like the industrial looms of the time.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Verb
With a post-stock market crash-depression and a dustbowl ensuing ,and a Second World War looming, the democratic ideals of Ancient Greece fueled the escapist arts of the era.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
What else looms, however, is something completely out of the control of the travelers: the day’s weather.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s approval comes amid the looming expiration of a series of crucial taxes that fund the state’s Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to roughly 1 million residents.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
On an earnings call with investors last year, Iger said a looming crackdown would help Disney grow.
—Cnn, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
California Assembly Democrats have their own early action plan to shave $17 billion from the state’s looming budget deficit — but their approach differs from the one supported by Senate leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom in several ways.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
And lowering the draft age alone will not resolve Ukraine’s looming need for soldiers.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The possibility that Kansas City might lose one or both of its top two professional sports franchises loomed over two of three previous times that the Chiefs and Royals have asked voters for tax support.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Instead, Ferrell lets the uncertainty loom, like a dark cloud obscuring a rocky shoreline.
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near loom
Cite this Entry
“Loom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loom. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loom
1 of 2 noun
: a frame or machine for weaving threads or yarns to produce cloth
loom
2 of 2 verb1
: to appear suddenly and often with a large, dim, or strange form
loomed out of the fog
2
: to be about to happen
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