Phrase guide

zoom out

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌzuːm ˈaʊt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aʊt

1

verb

Meaning 1

To decrease the focal length of a zoom lens in order to obtain a reduced magnification of the image, or a wider-angle view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The director asked to zoom out for a wider shot of the landscape.
  • The drone's camera began to zoom out as it ascended higher into the sky.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To manipulate a display (such as a computer screen) so as to make the image smaller and possibly less detailed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • You can zoom out on the screen to see the entire document.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From zoom + out.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 縮小 /缩小 (suōxiǎo) — focus a zoom lens
  • Estonian: vähendama — focus a zoom lens
  • Finnish: loitontaa (kuva) — focus a zoom lens
  • French: dézoomer — focus a zoom lens
  • Japanese: ズームアウトする (zūmuauto suru) — focus a zoom lens
  • Japanese: 縮小する (shukushō suru) — focus a zoom lens
  • Korean: 줌 아웃하다 (jum authada) — focus a zoom lens
  • Korean: 축소(縮小)하다 (chuksohada) — focus a zoom lens
  • Polish: oddalać — focus a zoom lens
  • Polish: oddalić — focus a zoom lens
  • Spanish: alejar el zoom — focus a zoom lens
  • Spanish: alejar el zum — focus a zoom lens
  • Swedish: zooma ut — focus a zoom lens
  • Ukrainian: віддалити (viddalyty) — focus a zoom lens
  • Chinese Mandarin: 縮小 /缩小 (suōxiǎo) — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Estonian: vähendama — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Finnish: pienentää (näyttöä) — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • French: dézoomer — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Japanese: 縮小する (shukushō suru) — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Korean: 축소(縮小)하다 (chuksohada) — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Polish: pomniejszać — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Polish: pomniejszyć — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Swedish: zooma ut — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller
  • Vietnamese: thu nho — manipulate a display so as to make it smaller