loom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "loom" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
It can be used to describe something that is about to happen or is imminent, often with a sense of dread or concern. Example: "As the deadline approached, a sense of anxiety began to loom over the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The projecting glassy liner, which drives a wedge between the Southbank and the National Theatre, is echoed 40 metres up in the air, by what the architects describe as a floating pavilion – a 60-metre-long glass box that will loom over the Hayward gallery.

The Guardian - Arts

While some presidents, including those who occupied the White House for a full eight years, have struggled to be remembered at all 50 years after their deaths, Kennedy continues to loom large.

The Guardian

Big changes to charity law also loom large.

The Guardian

Stories grounded in the landscape also loom large, in customs such as choosing the gleaning queen when the harvest is brought in, or bumping heads against boundary stones to affirm the limits of the local world.

The Guardian - Books

He was able to speak directly to people outside the Westminster world, yet he was painfully shy and this gap between appearance and reality seemed to loom large.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately for her, Simona Halep would loom in the next round.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Hillary Clinton email controversy is back as Benghazi and iPad questions loom In an August 2014 interview, Clinton went so far as to use the word "failure" in describing the Obama policy in Syria, saying: "The failure to help build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad... left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled".

The Guardian

As environmental and social issues grow ever more urgent in 2015, we can expect the gray areas – and the search for solutions – to continue to loom large.

The Guardian

Other worries loom large on the horizon, the biggest of them being the fear that a referendum on electoral reform – the Lib Dems' key aim for the coalition – will be lost next May.

The Guardian

When the traditional Labour party is the alternative, the attraction diminishes and the unattractive aspects – including his Toryness – may even loom larger.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two novels will loom large under Christmas trees this year: Eleanor Catton's record-breaking Booker winner (longest novel, youngest author) The Luminaries (Granta), and Donna Tartt's vast study of art and loss, The Goldfinch (Little, Brown).

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "loom" to create a sense of foreboding or importance, especially when describing upcoming events or challenges. For example, use it to emphasize the significance of a deadline or a potential crisis.

Common error

Avoid using "loom" when simpler words like "appear" or "arise" would suffice. Overusing "loom" can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Keep it for scenarios that genuinely evoke anticipation or apprehension.

Linguistic Context

Loom primarily functions as a verb, often intransitive, to describe something that appears large, indistinct, and often threatening. As per Ludwig, the phrase "loom" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context. It can also function as a noun, referring to a weaving machine.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "loom" is frequently employed as a verb to convey an impending sense of significance or threat, as per Ludwig's analysis. It is deemed grammatically correct and widely utilized in English writing. Its primary function lies in creating an atmosphere of anticipation, often with a negative connotation. While commonly found in News & Media, it also appears in Formal & Business contexts. To prevent overuse, remember to reserve the term for situations that genuinely warrant a sense of foreboding or importance, avoiding its application in mundane scenarios. Authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist frequently employ "loom", further cementing its relevance and validity in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impending

Implies an event is close at hand and often threatening; focuses on the nearness of the event.

threatening

Emphasizes the potential danger or harm associated with the approaching event or entity.

hovering

Suggests a presence that is close and possibly intrusive or watchful, often without direct action.

emerging

Focuses on the process of becoming visible or prominent, rather than a static presence.

gathering

Implies that something is accumulating or increasing in intensity, leading to a looming situation.

materializing

Highlights the transformation from potential to actual presence.

brewing

Suggests that something is developing, often with a sense of anticipation or unease.

gathering momentum

Implies increasing strength or speed, suggesting the issue becomes more threatening over time.

in the offing

Indicates something is likely to happen or appear soon, often used in a more informal context.

on the horizon

Refers to something that is likely to happen in the future but is not immediately present.

FAQs

How can I use "loom" in a sentence?

Use "loom" to describe something significant or threatening that is about to happen. For example: "The deadline began to "loom" as the team rushed to finish the project".

What can I say instead of "loom"?

You can use alternatives like "impending", "threatening", or "emerging" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "problems loom" or "problems are looming"?

Both "problems "loom"" and "problems are "looming"" are grammatically correct, with "problems are looming" emphasizing the ongoing or progressive nature of the situation.

What's the difference between "loom" and "emerge"?

"Loom" suggests something significant or threatening that is approaching, while "emerge" simply means to become visible or known. "Loom" carries a stronger sense of anticipation or foreboding.