zero in on

phrasal verb

zeroed in on; zeroing in on; zeroes in on

1

: to direct all of one's attention to (someone or something)

Scientists are hoping to zero in on a cure.

2

: to aim something (such as a gun or camera) directly at (someone or something)

The gunner zeroed in on the target.

Examples of zero in on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators are now zeroing in on the critical hours between when the Reiners left the holiday gathering and when their bodies were discovered the following afternoon. —Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025

Dolezal also zeroed in on Nathan Wade, the prosecutor whose romantic involvement with Willis resulted in her office’s ejection from the case. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025

Speaking over Zoom from his London office, label founder Nic Tasker tries to zero in on the essence of AD 93, contrasting the label’s early, clubby days with those of erstwhile peers like Hessle Audio or Livity Sound. —Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 16 Dec. 2025

Only Barry Joseph has zeroed in on his sideline as a puzzles-and-games enthusiast. —Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for zero in on

• agamemnon
• automaton
• diencephalon
• panopticon
• phenomenon
• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon