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
Episode 5 zeroes in on a 2020 incident that prompted law enforcement to look at Syed’s case in a new way.
—
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
The growth story is where things get interesting, as salespeople use AI to zero in on leads and cross-sell products.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Messages Robinson is believed to have sent on Discord were also among the clues that helped investigators zero in on him as a suspect, officials said.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Kering is zeroing in on a contract to make Francesca Bellettini, one of its most high-profile and accomplished executives, the next chief executive officer at Gucci, WWD has learned.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero in on
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
The growth story is where things get interesting, as salespeople use AI to zero in on leads and cross-sell products.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Messages Robinson is believed to have sent on Discord were also among the clues that helped investigators zero in on him as a suspect, officials said.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Kering is zeroing in on a contract to make Francesca Bellettini, one of its most high-profile and accomplished executives, the next chief executive officer at Gucci, WWD has learned.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 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 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share