Boom
/buːm/
Definitions
3 meaningsA deep resonant sound, often sudden and loud.
/buːm/
A loud, resonant sound
The boom of thunder startled me.
💡 Simply: A loud sound.
More Examples
A sudden boom echoed through the valley.
How It's Used
"The cannon created a deafening boom."
"The boom of the artillery fire shook the ground."
A period of rapid economic expansion or growth.
/buːm/
A period of rapid economic growth
The tech boom of the late 1990s created many new jobs.
💡 Simply: A time of fast economic growth.
More Examples
The post-war boom led to widespread prosperity.
How It's Used
"The country experienced an economic boom in the 1990s."
To make a loud, resonant sound.
/buːm/
To make a loud, resonant sound
The cannon boomed across the battlefield.
💡 Simply: To make a loud sound.
More Examples
The thunder boomed in the distance.
How It's Used
"The bass drum boomed."
Idioms & expressions
boom and bust
A cycle of economic expansion followed by contraction.
"The dot-com boom and bust cycle taught many valuable lessons."
From Middle Dutch *boom, from Proto-Germanic *būm- (“tree, wood”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to bend, arch”). The sense of a loud sound developed later, likely from the sound of a cannon.
The word's usage for a loud sound has ancient roots. However, its association with economic growth is a relatively modern development.
Memory tip
Imagine a big, booming cannon.
Word Origin
"tree, wood"