to zero in on

Examples

• All

• One area that teachers are zeroing in on with technology is writing skills.

  Academic text (2007)

• And I want to zero in on a very specific thing that takes money to do, which is obtain documents from the government.

• We'll then zero in on a case study of the estate tax.

• Oh, we can zero in on that.

  The Hybrids Family (2016)

• The thing I want to zero in on is this whole state trend.

  Julian Dorey

• "I actually enjoy those situations because it forces me to zero in on what matters in a case."

  Academic text (2009)

• And who do you think they're gonna zero in on, huh?

  Fire in the Sky (1993)

• Reiss suggests that authors zero in on their goals for their book and their overall goals as an author.

  Academic text (2011)

• Nongovernmental organizations are also zeroing in on agriculture as the key way to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa.

  Academic text (2010)

• After analyzing the data, we will zero in on the most important trends.

Synonyms

F

to focus on

vsto zero in on

∞ 2.0

Give most attention and effort to one person or task

is the same idea but implies closer, specific targeting

P

to pay attention

vsto zero in on

∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

involves deeper effort and intent than simply listening or watching

C

to concentrate

vsto zero in on

561 3.4

To give all your attention to one thing

is about the same focus but with more exact targeting

C

to concentrate on

vsto zero in on

279 3.1

Give your full attention to one activity or subject

is similar but stresses more precise targeting

Z

to zero in

vsto zero in on

63 4.7

To focus closely on a specific target

is broader, meaning focused effort on a person or thing

S

to settle on

vsto zero in on

55 3.1

To fix your eyes or attention on one thing

is active directing of attention rather than passive fixation

F

to fixate

vsto zero in on

46 7.0

To think about someone or something all the time

means directed attention but without obsessive or emotional intensity

Z

to zoom in

vsto zero in on

• Texting

33 3.7

To look closely at one part to see small details

is more about general focused effort rather than exact aiming

Z

to zoom in on

vsto zero in on

17 3.7

To pay close attention to one small part or detail

is broader, covering focused effort not only close inspection

P

to put one's mind to it

vsto zero in on

14 3.5

To focus all your attention and effort on achieving something

is similar but often without the achievement goal emphasis

D

to draw a bead on

vsto zero in on

8.2

Pay close attention to a person, goal, or problem

is close focus but less about aiming like a shot

F

to focalize

vsto zero in on

• Specialized

8.6

To make action or an effect happen mainly in one place

is everyday directing of effort rather than technical concentration

Antonyms

N

to neglect

256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Focused

to zero in on

44 4.2

to focus on

∞ 2.0

to pay attention

∞ 1.6

to look at

∞ 1.0

to notice

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology