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

Blahnik said the company has been looking for the right location in town for years and explored a few before zeroing in on the current space spanning more than 2,000 square feet and located on Via Pietro Verri in Milan’s Golden Triangle. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025

Spotlight on development Suarez’s attacks on Dominguez — who was elected in 2022 to succeed her life partner, Mark Samuelian, after Samuelian’s death — have zeroed in on her support for controversial development projects. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

The story quoted Yeomans saying that the police had zeroed in on a suspect. —Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025

Redwine and the film crew were careful to walk the line between inspirational and tragic — not zeroing in on challenges of living with a disability but not glossing over them, either. —Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 10 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for zero in on

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