boom

1 of 3

verb

ˈbüm 

boomed; booming; booms

intransitive verb

1

: to make a deep hollow sound

2

a

: to increase in importance, popularity, or esteem

b

: to experience a sudden rapid growth and expansion usually with an increase in prices

business was booming

c

: to develop rapidly in population and importance

California boomed when gold was discovered there

d

: to increase greatly in size or number

the population boomed

transitive verb

1

: to cause to resound

—often used with out

his voice booms out the lyrics

2

: to cause a rapid growth or increase of : boost

3

: to hit or kick forcefully

boom a punt

boom

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a booming sound or cry

—often used interjectionally to indicate suddenness

then boom, he was fired

2

: a rapid expansion or increase: such as

a

: a general movement in support of a candidate for office

b

: rapid settlement and development of a town or district

c

: a rapid widespread expansion of economic activity

d

: an upsurge in activity, interest, or popularity

a folk music boom

boom

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a long spar used to extend the foot of a sail

2

a

: a chain or line of connected floating timbers extended across a river, lake, or harbor (as to obstruct passage or catch floating objects)

b

: a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill

3

a

: a long beam projecting from the mast of a derrick to support or guide cargo

b

: a long more or less horizontal supporting arm or brace (as for holding a microphone)

4

: a spar or outrigger connecting the tail surfaces and the main supporting structure of an aircraft

Synonyms

Verb

• accelerate
• accumulate
• appreciate
• balloon
• build up
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• climb
• enlarge
• escalate
• expand
• gain
• increase
• mount
• multiply
• mushroom
• proliferate
• rise
• roll up
• snowball
• spread
• swell
• wax

Noun (1)

• bang
• blast
• clap
• crack
• crash
• pop
• report
• slam
• smash
• snap
• thunderclap
• thwack
• whack
• whomp
• whump

Examples of boom in a Sentence

Verb

the sound of the bass drum booming

His voice boomed out across the congregation.

She boomed commands from the stern of the ship.

“What's going on here?” he boomed.

Housing construction has boomed in the past year.

Last year we almost had to close the store, but now business is booming.

Noun (1)

the nerve-jangling boom of a car backfiring

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Since the pandemic, that number has soared to more than 70 percent of spots, with ads featuring multiple cameos also booming. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025

Sporting events — spectator and participatory — are booming in South Florida. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025

Noun

During the bourbon boom, as it's been dubbed, Kentucky distillers ramped up production, producing 2.7 million barrels of bourbon in 2022, up from 1.7 million barrels in 2018 and 1.15 million in 2015, per the Kentucky Distillers' Association. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025

The number of people quitting has fallen from a record 4.5 million near the height of the hiring boom in April 2022, to December's 3.2 million, which is below pre-pandemic levels. —Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bomben, bummen, of imitative origin

Noun (2)

Dutch, tree, beam; akin to Old High German boum tree — more at beam

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing boom

• baby boom
• boom box
• lower the boom
• sonic boom

Kids Definition

boom

1 of 3 noun

ˈbüm 

1

: a long pole used especially to stretch the bottom of a sail

2

a

: a long beam sticking out from the mast of a derrick to support or guide something that is being lifted

b

: a long arm used to move a microphone

3

: a line of connected floating timbers (as across a river) to obstruct passage or catch floating objects

boom

2 of 3 verb

1

: to make a deep hollow rumbling sound

2

a

: to increase in importance or popularity

b

: to experience a boom (as in growth)

boom

3 of 3 noun

1

: a booming sound or cry

2

: a rapid increase in growth, popularity, or prosperity

especially : a rapid widespread expansion of business

Etymology

Noun

from Dutch boom "tree, wooden beam"

Verb

a word imitating the sound