home in

verb

To draw close to a destination, especially using radar; to move towards a target.

“We are homing in on a solution.”

Similar
zero inrange in
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Meanings

verbhome in (third-person singular simple present homes in, present participle homing in, simple past and past participle homed in)

present singular third person homes in · participle present homing in · participle past homed in · past homed in · alternative proscribed hone in

  1. oftengovernmentTo draw close to a destination, especially using radar; to move towards a target.

    Synonyms: zero in

  2. oftenTo focus or narrow down to something; to find, draw closer or move towards, as by trial and error or a gradual seeking process.

    We are homing in on a solution.

    3 more examples

    He used the clues to home in on the source of the flames.

    The eagle homed in for the kill.

    Homing in on the way someone presents can help you imitate them; for instance, some prefer to get right down to business, focusing on data and facts.

    2020 December 21, Bryan Lufkin, “How 'linguistic mirroring' can make you more convincing”, in BBC, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2021

    Synonyms: zero in

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo draw close to a destination, especially using radar; to move towards a target.

Similar
zero in

verbTo focus or narrow down to something; to find, draw closer or move towards, as by trial and error or a gradual seeking process.

Similar
zero in

More synonyms by meaning

verbdirect onto a point or target, especially by automatic navigational aids

Similar
range inzero in
Broader
targetaimplace
Also see
zero in

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

The phrase originates in military use in the early 20th century, apparently by analogy with the older term homing pigeon. From the 1960s it is also found in the mistaken variant hone in. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone+in

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German sich dem Zielgebiet nähern, (in Richtung) ... einschwenken
  • sich dem Zielgebiet nähern1. to draw close to a destination
  • (in Richtung) ... einschwenken2. to draw closer or move towards
  • Kurs nehmen2. to draw closer or move towards
Polish celować, wycelować
  • celować1. to draw close to a destination
  • wycelować1. to draw close to a destination
  • celować2. to draw closer or move towards
  • wycelować2. to draw closer or move towards
Cite this entry
APA

home in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/home%20in

MLA

“home in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/home%20in. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “home in,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/home%20in.

Source: home in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.