as it looms

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it looms" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is approaching or becoming more significant, often with a sense of urgency or foreboding. Example: "As the deadline looms, the team is working harder to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Instead, the tragedy is giving it extra octane as it looms as possibly the biggest box-office hit of the summer.

Independent

AT 128 metres tall, the Kariba Dam is an impressive sight as it looms over the Zambezi gorge separating Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Economist

Because the thing about DNA evidence, strong as it is, large as it looms in the public's imagination, is that it connects a human and an object.

The Guardian

Particularly impressive are his views of the Rodin sculpture, its dark bulk almost an abstraction, forming an interesting figure-ground relationship as it looms against a lighter sky (Glueck).

The New York Times - Arts

The star of The Americans is not the KGB, but the house where these agents live, even as it looms on the screen like something out of a horror movie.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The pearl-gray colossus, one of two former New York Dock Company loft buildings, is not much to look at now, housing piles of dust and detritus as it looms over the weeds and gritty businesses of Imlay Street.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Articles about Mr Robertson's designs started sprouting months before Crumble & Flake's opening, more as it loomed closer.

The Economist

The local asylum loomed in the imagination, as it loomed in reality: a forbidding institution behind big gates, fortified with shrubberies, in which, almost certainly, wild-eyed inmates lurked with drooling mouths.

The Guardian

And as I stared at it again that day, as it loomed over me, I made one last decision: I would go down it.

Huffington Post

Yes, we still have quite a way to go before we can claim victory over hatred, but are we on the verge of Civil War as it loomed over America in the 1860s?

Huffington Post

It runs for nearly three hours, and it looms as large as an epic, with a score, by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch, that feels at times like an onslaught of monumental thuds.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it looms" to create a sense of anticipation or foreboding in your writing, especially when discussing deadlines, challenges, or significant events.

Common error

Avoid using "as it looms" in casual conversation or informal writing. This phrase is more suitable for formal or descriptive contexts where a sense of gravity or anticipation is desired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it looms" functions as a conjunction phrase, often introducing a clause that sets the stage for an impending event or situation. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as it looms" serves as a conjunction phrase, effectively conveying anticipation or a sense of foreboding concerning an approaching event. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for formal contexts like news reports and descriptive writing. Though not overly common, its strategic use can enrich writing by adding a layer of significance to upcoming events. While alternatives like "as it approaches" exist, "as it looms" carries a unique sense of importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it approaches

Replaces "looms" with a more straightforward term for approaching.

as it draws near

Substitutes "looms" with "draws near", emphasizing the gradual approach.

as it nears

A simpler synonym for "approaches", maintaining the original meaning.

with its approach

Changes the structure to focus on the approach of the subject.

as it looms into sight

Specifies that the subject is becoming visible as it approaches.

as it impends

Uses a more formal and less common term, "impends", for "looms".

as it comes into view

Describes something becoming visible or noticeable.

in anticipation of

Shifts the focus to the anticipation of the event rather than its approach.

as it materializes

Focuses on something becoming real or evident.

with the advent of

Emphasizes the arrival or beginning of something.

FAQs

How can I use "as it looms" in a sentence?

Use "as it looms" to describe something significant approaching. For example, "As the deadline looms, the pressure is mounting."

What are some alternatives to "as it looms"?

Consider alternatives like "as it approaches", "as it draws near", or "in the offing" depending on the desired tone and context.

Is "as it looms" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "as it looms" is suitable for formal writing, especially when creating a sense of anticipation or importance around an upcoming event or situation.

What's the difference between "as it looms" and "as it approaches"?

"As it looms" suggests a greater sense of significance or potential impact compared to the more neutral phrase "as it approaches". "As it looms" often implies a sense of foreboding or anticipation, while "as it approaches" simply indicates nearness in time or space.