zoom out
/zuːm aʊt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make a camera, screen, or image show a wider view by moving farther away or using a smaller scale. It can also mean to think about a situation in a wider, less detailed way.
- Can you zoom out a little on the map?
- Try to zoom out and see the bigger picture.
- The camera zoomed out slowly.
Adinary Nuance
Zoom out is more visual than widen, expand, or step back. Use it for screens, maps, cameras, and also for ideas when you want a broader view. In thinking, it is more informal and vivid than say, take a broader perspective.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thu nhỏ
- Spanish
- alejar
- Chinese
- 缩小
- Japanese
- ズームアウト
- Korean
- 축소하다
Etymology
Zoom comes from the mid-20th century, first linked to camera lenses. The phrase zoom out grew with photography, film, and later computer screens.
Common phrases
zoom out on a mapzoom out of the imagezoom out for contextzoom out and look at the bigger picture
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is zoom out a formal phrase?
- It is common in everyday speech and digital contexts. It is not very formal for academic writing.
- What is the difference between zoom out and step back?
- Zoom out is often used for screens, images, and ideas. Step back is more general and can mean literally moving away.
- Can I use zoom out in business writing?
- Yes, if you mean looking at the wider situation. It sounds clear and modern.
- Is zoom out the opposite of zoom in?
- Yes. Zoom out shows more area, while zoom in shows more detail.