looming
looming — 形容詞
1. If an unpleasant or unwanted event is described as looming, it is getting closer
逼近
不愉快之事即將發生的
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.
Wei 因為即將到來的考試成績感到焦慮，晚上睡不好。
looming + exam results (unwanted situation)
With the typhoon looming, the fisherman pulled his boat onto the beach.
颱風逼近，漁夫把船拖到沙灘上。
The country faced a looming financial crisis after months of political uncertainty.
在歷經數月的政治不穩定後，該國面臨一場迫在眉睫的金融危機。
A looming deadline forced the design team to work late every night that week.
一項逼近的截止期限迫使設計團隊那週每晚都工作到很晚。
The looming threat of layoffs made everyone at the factory feel uneasy about their jobs.
裁員的威脅逼近，工廠裡的每個人都對自己的工作感到不安。
- 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 — 名詞
1. A loom is a frame or piece of equipment that holds threads in place while a pers
織布機
將紗線織成布料的框架或機器
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.
那位老婦人坐在她的木製織布機前，為一條毯子穿入彩色紗線。
sit at + a + loom
Old hand looms are still used in some traditional weaving villages across Southeast Asia.
在東南亞的一些傳統紡織村落中，仍然使用著古老的手工織布機。
The museum displayed a large loom from the early nineteenth century in its textile gallery.
博物館在紡織品展廳中展示了一臺十九世紀初的大型織布機。
Amara learned to operate a loom during her visit to the craft center in the mountains.
Amara 在造訪山區工藝中心時學會了操作織布機。
The textile factory replaced its old mechanical looms with newer, faster machines.
這家紡織廠用更新、更快的機器取代了舊的機械織布機。
- 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 — 動詞
1. When a large object looms, it comes into view slowly or suddenly as an unclear s
赫然出現
巨大而模糊地出現在視野中
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.
一個黑暗的人影出現在受驚的登山客前方的濃霧中。
loom + in + [location] (physical appearance)
The mountain loomed above the small village, its peak hidden behind heavy clouds.
那座山赫然聳立在小村莊上方，山頂隱沒在厚重的雲層之後。
As the cargo ship drew closer, its huge shape loomed through the morning mist.
貨輪靠近時，其巨大的輪廓穿過晨霧隱約浮現。
The old castle loomed on the hilltop, dark against the orange evening sky.
那座古老的城堡聳立在山頂上，在橘色的晚霞中顯得陰暗。
A tall stranger named Diego loomed suddenly at the end of the narrow alleyway.
一位名叫 Diego 的高個子陌生人突然出現在狹窄小巷的盡頭。
- 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
聳立；顯赫
顯得巨大而威嚴
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.
新建的摩天大樓聳立在周圍的小房屋和商店之上。
loom over + [noun phrase] (physical dominance)
Yuki's grandfather loomed large in the family history, his stories passed down for generations.
Yuki 的祖父在家族歷史中有著舉足輕重的地位，他的故事代代相傳。
loom large (figurative — great importance)
The old cathedral loomed above the market square, visible from every street in town.
那座古老的大教堂聳立在市場廣場上方，從鎮上每一條街都看得見。
The director's authority loomed over every important decision the committee made.
主任的權威籠罩著委員會所做的每一項重要決定。
The question of their future loomed larger with each passing day of uncertainty.
隨著日子一天天過去，他們未來的問題變得越來越重大。
- 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.