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
Bunker, who died in 2021, was never charged in connection with the scheme, though federal investigators were zeroing in on her involvement before her death, The Post reported last year.
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Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
Ingredients for existence Each of the three papers zeroes in on a clue from the Bennu asteroid as to how the solar system developed and how life on Earth eventually came to be.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The focus puller zeroes in on my mom’s face.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Over 24 hours, engineers zeroed in on individual jets.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero in on
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Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
Ingredients for existence Each of the three papers zeroes in on a clue from the Bennu asteroid as to how the solar system developed and how life on Earth eventually came to be.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
The focus puller zeroes in on my mom’s face.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Over 24 hours, engineers zeroed in on individual jets.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero in on
Cite this Entry
“Zero in on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero%20in%20on. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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