boomed; booming; booms
1
: to make a deep hollow sound
2
a
: to increase in importance, popularity, or esteem
b
: to experience a sudden rapid growth and expansion usually with an increase in prices
business was booming
c
: to develop rapidly in population and importance
California boomed when gold was discovered there
d
: to increase greatly in size or number
the population boomed
1
: to cause to resound
—often used with out
his voice booms out the lyrics
2
: to cause a rapid growth or increase of : boost
3
: to hit or kick forcefully
boom a punt
1
: a booming sound or cry
—often used interjectionally to indicate suddenness
then boom, he was fired
2
: a rapid expansion or increase: such as
a
: a general movement in support of a candidate for office
b
: rapid settlement and development of a town or district
c
: a rapid widespread expansion of economic activity
d
: an upsurge in activity, interest, or popularity
a folk music boom
1
: a long spar used to extend the foot of a sail
2
a
: a chain or line of connected floating timbers extended across a river, lake, or harbor (as to obstruct passage or catch floating objects)
b
: a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill
3
a
: a long beam projecting from the mast of a derrick to support or guide cargo
b
: a long more or less horizontal supporting arm or brace (as for holding a microphone)
4
: a spar or outrigger connecting the tail surfaces and the main supporting structure of an aircraft
Synonyms
Examples of boom in a Sentence
Verb
the sound of the bass drum booming
His voice boomed out across the congregation.
She boomed commands from the stern of the ship.
“What's going on here?” he boomed.
Housing construction has boomed in the past year.
Last year we almost had to close the store, but now business is booming.
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Located about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, Riverside is at the heart of a warehousing-industry hub that boomed during the pandemic but has been showing signs of slowdown more recently.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Sanctions and export controls have pushed Russia — which once enjoyed booming trade with Europe and the United States despite tensions — to turn to China, even if the trade relationship is clearly unfavorable.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
Lindsay believes now is especially the perfect time, with the city of 6,200 expected to boom after the Panasonic battery plant opens in 2025, bringing 4,000 new jobs.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
The market for chili crisps has boomed in recent years, with many new players at grocery stores all sporting different names.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 10 Apr. 2024
With success booming in Optimist Park, co-owners Nkem and Kerrel Thompson have been scheming an expansion for a while.
—Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
By the numbers, Tohono O’odham Community College is booming.
—Matt Krupnick, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
The region’s freight industry has boomed in tandem.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2024
LaPorta says the two artists wanted their latest full-lengths to feel like throwback Future releases, incorporating dusty soul samples and ’80s boom bap while retaining Future’s classic trap sound.
—Damien Scott, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
The boom in college basketball, buoyed by Clark, also led to record-breaking viewership numbers earlier this month during the Final Four and the National Championship game.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, engineers will assess the resiliency of their novel composite booms, which are 75-percent lighter and designed to offer 100-times less shape distortion than any previous solar sail boom prototype.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2024
The job cuts came after a hiring boom during COVID.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Importantly, drilling and fracking methodology has improved by leaps and bounds, thanks to the boom in oil and gas extraction from shale rocks that began in the 2010s.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Conversion of old office buildings into apartments, lofts and condos was underway, but local burghers saw the Super Bowl as a catalyst that could create a boom in downtown living.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
But older workers are often left out of the employment boom.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Verb
And this is an industry that when oil is booming, when the price of a barrel of oil on the global market is high, can never find enough workers.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Located about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, Riverside is at the heart of a warehousing-industry hub that boomed during the pandemic but has been showing signs of slowdown more recently.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Sanctions and export controls have pushed Russia — which once enjoyed booming trade with Europe and the United States despite tensions — to turn to China, even if the trade relationship is clearly unfavorable.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
Lindsay believes now is especially the perfect time, with the city of 6,200 expected to boom after the Panasonic battery plant opens in 2025, bringing 4,000 new jobs.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
The market for chili crisps has boomed in recent years, with many new players at grocery stores all sporting different names.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 10 Apr. 2024
With success booming in Optimist Park, co-owners Nkem and Kerrel Thompson have been scheming an expansion for a while.
—Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
By the numbers, Tohono O’odham Community College is booming.
—Matt Krupnick, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
The region’s freight industry has boomed in tandem.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
The rushing around seems part and parcel of this boom phase of Martin’s career, with its proliferating gigs and opportunities.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2024
LaPorta says the two artists wanted their latest full-lengths to feel like throwback Future releases, incorporating dusty soul samples and ’80s boom bap while retaining Future’s classic trap sound.
—Damien Scott, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
The boom in college basketball, buoyed by Clark, also led to record-breaking viewership numbers earlier this month during the Final Four and the National Championship game.
—Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, engineers will assess the resiliency of their novel composite booms, which are 75-percent lighter and designed to offer 100-times less shape distortion than any previous solar sail boom prototype.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2024
The job cuts came after a hiring boom during COVID.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024
Importantly, drilling and fracking methodology has improved by leaps and bounds, thanks to the boom in oil and gas extraction from shale rocks that began in the 2010s.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Conversion of old office buildings into apartments, lofts and condos was underway, but local burghers saw the Super Bowl as a catalyst that could create a boom in downtown living.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
But older workers are often left out of the employment boom.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Boom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boom. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boom
1 of 3 noun1
: a long pole used especially to stretch the bottom of a sail
2
a
: a long beam sticking out from the mast of a derrick to support or guide something that is being lifted
b
: a long arm used to move a microphone
3
: a line of connected floating timbers (as across a river) to obstruct passage or catch floating objects
boom
2 of 3 verb1
: to make a deep hollow rumbling sound
2
a
: to increase in importance or popularity
b
: to experience a boom (as in growth)
boom
3 of 3 noun1
: a booming sound or cry
2
: a rapid increase in growth, popularity, or prosperity
especially
: a rapid widespread expansion of business
Etymology
Noun
from Dutch boom "tree, wooden beam"
Verb
a word imitating the sound
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