boom

To grow quickly or become very successful.

• Business is booming this year.
• The town's population boomed after the factory opened.
• Tourism continues to boom despite higher prices.

Similar words: flourish, thrive, expand

Opposites: decline, shrink

Common phrases: begin to boom, continue to boom, boom in summer

To make a loud, deep sound that carries a long way.

• Thunder boomed above us.
• His voice boomed across the hall.
• The drums are booming in the distance.

Similar words: resound, thunder

Common phrases: boom loudly, boom out, boom across something

To move forwards with great force while making a very loud, deep noise.

• The train boomed past us.
• Waves boomed into the narrow cave.
• Floodwater boomed through the broken gate.

How to use it: boom through/past/into something (The express train boomed through the tunnel.)

Similar words: roar, thunder

Common phrases: boom through something, boom past someone, boom into something

A loud, deep sound, especially one made by an explosion.

• We heard a loud boom.
• A boom of thunder shook the windows.
• Several booms echoed across the valley.

Similar words: bang, roar, rumble

Common phrases: a loud boom, sonic boom, boom of thunder

A period when business, activity, or numbers grow very quickly.

• The housing boom created many jobs.
• There has been a boom in online shopping.
• Several small companies grew during the economic boom.

How to use it: a boom in something (The town saw a boom in tourism.)

Similar words: surge, upswing

Opposites: slump

Common phrases: economic boom, boom in sales, housing boom

A long movable pole, especially one holding the bottom of a boat's sail.

• The boom moved above the deck.
• Duck when the boat's boom swings across.
• The microphone hangs from a long boom.

Similar words: spar, arm

Common phrases: sailing boom, microphone boom, crane boom

A word that represents the loud, deep sound of an explosion.

• Boom! The bomb exploded.
• The fireworks went boom above our heads.
• We heard a loud boom! Then the windows shook.

Similar words: bang

Common phrases: boom bang, go boom

Used to show that something happens suddenly or that a result appears quickly.

• Press this button and boom, you're finished!
• Then boom, the lights went out.
• One quick change and boom, the problem was solved.

Similar words: voilà, hey presto

Common phrases: and boom, then boom