Boom — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbüm/

Meaning & Definition of Boom

Boom (verb)

  1. to make a deep hollow sound
  2. to increase in importance, popularity, or esteem
  3. to experience a sudden rapid growth and expansion usually with an increase in prices

Boom (noun)

  1. a booming sound or cry —often used interjectionally to indicate suddenness
  2. a rapid expansion or increase
  3. a general movement in support of a candidate for office
  4. a long spar used to extend the foot of a sail
  5. a chain or line of connected floating timbers extended across a river, lake, or harbor (as to obstruct passage or catch floating objects)
  6. a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill

Boom (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a loud explosive sound

    "the nerve-jangling boom of a car backfiring"

    similar: bang, blast, clap, crack, crash, pop, report, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump
    related: thunk, wham, clang, clangor, clank, clash, knock, rap, tap, blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar

Boom (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number

    "with the strong economy, business is booming"

    similar: accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
    related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

  2. to make a long loud deep noise or cry

    "the cannons boomed throughout the night"

    similar: bellow, growl, roar, thunder
    related: grumble, roll, rumble, bang, blare, blast, peal, scream, screech, shriek, squall, bawl, call, cry, holler, hoot, shout, whoop, yell, bell, caterwaul, howl, wail, yowl
    near: grunt, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper, mewl, pule, squeak, whimper

Related Entry: Lower (verb)

Lower is a different word from Boom. The synonyms below are for lower, not for boom.

  1. to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally

    "workmen slowly lowered the heavy statue into place"

    similar: depress, drop, throw, throw down
    related: flatten, floor, level, knock down, knock over, strike down, topple, plop, plunk down, bobble, bungle, foozle, fumble, immerse, sink, submerge
    opposite: lift, pick up, raise

  2. to go to a lower level especially abruptly

    "prices of the new type of televisions lowered considerably as competition and sales increased"

    similar: crash, crater, decline, descend, dip, dive, drop, fall, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumble
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane, recede, retreat
    opposite: arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up
    near: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

  3. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "decided to lower his career ambitions to something more achievable"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, reduce
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, shrink, minimize, moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
    opposite: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise
    near: blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, intensify, redouble

  4. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "the noise of the jet engine lowered as the plane disappeared in the distance"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decline, decrease, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

  5. to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes

    "how could you lower yourself by passing off someone else's work as your own?"

    similar: abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humble, humiliate, shame, sink, smirch, take down
    related: abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off, bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander, affront, insult, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    opposite: aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt
    near: acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge, recognize, highlight, play up, spotlight, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify, advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, idealize, romanticize

  6. to diminish the price or value of

    "over time, inflation lowers incomes and savings in terms of actual buying power"

    similar: attenuate, break, cheapen, depreciate, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, mark down, reduce, sink, write down, write off
    related: debase, demonetize, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue, abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink
    opposite: appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade
    near: bloat, blow up, inflate, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

Related Entry: Lower (verb)

Lower is a different word from Boom. The synonyms below are for lower, not for boom.

  1. to take on a gloomy or forbidding look

    "the sky lowered overhead, threatening a fierce thunderstorm"

    similar: darken, gloom, glower
    related: frown, scowl, glare, stare, brood, mope, pet, pout, sulk, anger, bristle, fume, rage, steam, storm, intimidate, menace, threaten
    opposite: brighten, cheer (up), lighten, perk (up)

  2. to look with anger or disapproval

    "the motorist lowered at the jerk who had cut in front of her"

    similar: frown, glare, gloom, glower, scowl, look daggers
    related: gape, gaze, ogle, stare, grimace, pout, sulk, growl, snarl, sneer, snigger
    opposite: beam, grin, smile

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Boom

The most common words with a similar meaning to Boom:

bang, blast, clap, crack, crash, pop, report, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump, accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax, bellow, growl, roar

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Boom

Words with the opposite meaning of Boom:

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Related Words for Boom

thunk, wham, clang, clangor, clank, clash, knock, rap, tap, blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, tumult, uproar, jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

Near Antonyms of Boom

grunt, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper, mewl, pule, squeak, whimper

Word Forms of Boom

Inflections: boomed, booming, booms

Origin & Etymology of Boom

Middle English bomben, bummen, of imitative origin

First known use: 1713i

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Boom

Words & Phrases Containing Boom

boom box, baby boom, lower the boom, sonic boom

Frequently Asked Questions about Boom

What does "Boom" mean?

"Boom" means to make a deep hollow sound. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to make a deep hollow sound. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Boom"?

Other words for "Boom" include bang, blast, clap, crack, crash, pop, report and slam. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Boom" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Boom"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Boom". Common alternatives include bang, blast, clap, crack, crash, pop, report, slam, smash and snap.

What is the opposite of "Boom"?

Antonyms of "Boom" include contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede and wane. Near antonyms include grunt, mouth, mumble and murmur.

How do you use "Boom" in a sentence?

Examples of "Boom" in a sentence: "the nerve-jangling boom of a car backfiring"; "with the strong economy, business is booming"; "the cannons boomed throughout the night".

Is "Boom" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Boom" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Boom" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Boom" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Boom"?

"Boom" is pronounced /ˈbüm/.