zero in on

phrasal verb

zeroed in on; zeroing in on; zeroes in on

: to direct all of one's attention to (someone or something)

Scientists are hoping to zero in on a cure.

: 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 To create this list of the best shoulder bags of 2024, our editors reviewed recent runway to zero in on top shoulder bag trends in terms of shape, hardware, and color. —

Elana Zajdman, WWD, 2 July 2024 Typically, the media zeroes in on protocols, performance, polling, and gaffes—with journalists often prioritizing horse-race style coverage over voter education. —

Heather Hendershot / Made By History, TIME, 27 June 2024 Burns and his operatives zeroed in on the McNamaras. —

Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024 Even if the former president zeroes in on the current president's age, the Trump who shows up in Atlanta should be more focused and disciplined, allies said. —

David Jackson, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for zero in on

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.