zero in on

phrasal verb

zeroed in on; zeroing in on; zeroes in on
1
: to direct all of one's attention to (someone or something)
Scientists are hoping to zero in on a cure.
2
: to aim something (such as a gun or camera) directly at (someone or something)
The gunner zeroed in on the target.

Examples of zero in on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web They are expected to zero in on Cohen's extensive credibility issues. Graham Kates, CBS News, 14 May 2024 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will zero in on the highlights of the tour. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024 To explain the increase, the Fed’s researchers zeroed in on credit utilization rate, or how much of one’s credit a borrower is currently using (someone with a $10,000 limit and $4,000 in charges would be using 40%). Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 14 May 2024 Dominique Davis, a San Mateo County deputy district attorney, zeroed in on testimony from a psychologist who concluded just days before the hearing began in mid-April that Patel instead suffered from schizoaffective disorder. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024 The leaders of public schools in New York City and Montgomery County, Md., are also expected to appear before the committee, the first time K-12 districts have taken stage in House hearings zeroing in on the response by schools to student protests after the Oct. 7 attacks. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 7 May 2024 The study authors zeroed in on archaeological remains from medieval Winchester, England, because leprosy had many opportunities to jump between squirrels and humans in that area. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2024 And Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, which are a far-right street fighting gang, these were the two groups that federal prosecutors zeroed in on for their role in January 6. Leah Feiger, WIRED, 2 May 2024 The federal investigations into the company aren’t new, and were first reported by the Miami Herald last year, but the SEC filings in February and April provide more information about the subpoenas and what U.S. authorities are zeroing in on at LifeWallet. Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zero in on.' 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

“Zero in on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero%20in%20on. Accessed 19 May. 2024.

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