looming
looming — adjective
1. If an unpleasant or unwanted event is described as looming, it is getting closer
If an unpleasant or unwanted event is described as looming, it is getting closer in time and making people feel nervous or afraid about what is coming.
Wei felt anxious about the looming exam results and could not sleep well.
looming + exam results (unwanted situation)
With the typhoon looming, the fisherman pulled his boat onto the beach.
The country faced a looming financial crisis after months of political uncertainty.
A looming deadline forced the design team to work late every night that week.
The looming threat of layoffs made everyone at the factory feel uneasy about their jobs.
- imminent
more formal and neutral; can apply to wanted or unwanted events, while 'looming' is always negative
- impending
also describes something bad about to happen, but 'impending' focuses on closeness in time, while 'looming' also suggests a growing sense of threat
- approaching
neutral and general — does not carry the same sense of worry or threat as 'looming'
文法句型
looming + noun (crisis, deadline, storm)
be + looming
用法筆記
Only used for negative or unwanted situations. A holiday or a birthday party is never 'looming.' Common noun partners include 'crisis,' 'deadline,' 'threat,' 'storm,' 'disaster,' and 'election.'
常見錯誤
looming — noun
1. A loom is a frame or piece of equipment that holds threads in place while a pers
A loom is a frame or piece of equipment that holds threads in place while a person weaves other threads across them to make cloth or fabric.
The elderly woman sat at her wooden loom, threading colorful yarn for a blanket.
sit at + a + loom
Old hand looms are still used in some traditional weaving villages across Southeast Asia.
The museum displayed a large loom from the early nineteenth century in its textile gallery.
Amara learned to operate a loom during her visit to the craft center in the mountains.
The textile factory replaced its old mechanical looms with newer, faster machines.
- weaving frame
describes a simple, hand-operated loom rather than a powered machine
- weaving machine
used especially for industrial, power-driven looms
文法句型
a + loom
loom + verb
operate + a + loom
用法筆記
This noun is a different word from the verb 'loom' (to appear threateningly) — they share the same spelling by historical coincidence. The noun comes from an Old English word for 'tool' or 'implement.'
常見錯誤
looming — verb
1. When a large object looms, it comes into view slowly or suddenly as an unclear s
When a large object looms, it comes into view slowly or suddenly as an unclear shape that looks frightening or dangerous — such as a ship appearing through fog, or a mountain rising ahead through dark clouds.
A dark figure loomed in the thick fog ahead of the frightened hikers.
loom + in + [location] (physical appearance)
The mountain loomed above the small village, its peak hidden behind heavy clouds.
As the cargo ship drew closer, its huge shape loomed through the morning mist.
The old castle loomed on the hilltop, dark against the orange evening sky.
A tall stranger named Diego loomed suddenly at the end of the narrow alleyway.
- emerge
more neutral and less frightening; describes coming into view without the sense of threat
- appear
general and neutral — does not carry the indistinct, threatening quality of 'loom'
- take shape
describes something becoming visible gradually, but lacks the menacing undertone
- materialize
suggests appearing suddenly and unexpectedly, but not necessarily with a threatening quality
文法句型
loom + preposition (up, out of, through, above, before, in)
用法筆記
Intransitive — never takes a direct object (❌ 'The ship loomed the harbor'). Often combined with prepositions like 'up,' 'out of,' 'through,' 'above,' or 'before' to show how or where the object appears. The subject is usually large, dark, or partly hidden from view.
常見錯誤
2. Something that looms seems extremely big, powerful, or significant, filling the
Something that looms seems extremely big, powerful, or significant, filling the space or situation around it so strongly that other people or things look much less important by comparison.
The new skyscraper loomed over the small houses and shops around it.
loom over + [noun phrase] (physical dominance)
Yuki's grandfather loomed large in the family history, his stories passed down for generations.
loom large (figurative — great importance)
The old cathedral loomed above the market square, visible from every street in town.
The director's authority loomed over every important decision the committee made.
The question of their future loomed larger with each passing day of uncertainty.
- tower
suggests physical height more directly and can be used literally ('tower over') or figuratively; lacks the slightly threatening tone of 'loom'
- dominate
emphasizes control or influence over a situation or space; more active than 'loom'
- overhang
more literal — describes something physically projecting above; less common in figurative use
文法句型
loom + over/above + noun phrase
loom large
用法筆記
Often used metaphorically to describe a person's reputation, influence, or authority (e.g., 'a figure who looms large in modern history'). The phrase 'loom large' is a fixed expression that can appear in both physical ('the factory loomed large on the horizon') and figurative ('the problem loomed large in her mind') contexts.