zeroing in
Getting more precise
Zeroing in is the process of adjusting aim or focus toward a target with increasing precision.
The phrase comes from calibrating a rifle's sights until shots hit exactly where intended—the zero point.
Extended uses dominate: Police are zeroing in on a suspect.
Researchers are zeroing in on the cause.
The sense is always convergent—narrowing toward something specific.
- locking onAchieving target acquisition
- pinpointingLocating with precision
- on targetAccurately directed or predicted
- targetingSelecting as objective
- triangulatingLocating via multiple bearings
taking aim · concentration · honing · dialing in · tracking · narrowing · crosshairs · focus · fine-tuning · bearing down · aligning · isolating · locating · aiming · closing in · closing the gap · elimination · tweaking
- focusfocus, concentration, attention, focal point, concentrate
- highlightingemphasizing, stressing, underscoring, accenting, accentuating
- closing innearing, approaching, converging, hemming in, encircling
- fine-tuningtuning, adjustment, calibration, tweaking, refinement
- perceptionsee, vision, seeing, senses, observing
- approachingapproaching, nearing, coming, advancing, closing in
zeroing indispersing
Spreading widely apart
spreading out · diffusing · losing focus · diverging · generalizing
zeroing inpulling back
Moving rearward or retracting
retreating · withdrawing · moving away · missing the mark · losing track
zeroing inpulling away
Increasing gap from others
backing off · retreating · withdrawing · distancing · receding
zero, inning, zeros, zeroes, zero in, zeroed, zeroing, innings