looming
迫りくる
解説 Definition
looming は loom（不気味に現れる、差し迫る）の現在分詞からできた形容詞で、迫りくる、目前に迫ったという意味です。危機や締め切りなど、近づいていて不安を感じさせるものに使われます。
Looming describes an event, problem, or danger that appears to be approaching and is likely to happen soon, especially when it causes anxiety or seems threatening. It is commonly used before nouns such as deadline, crisis, storm, or exam.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 loom に -ing を付けた現在分詞で、語末の m は重ねず、発音は /ˈluːmɪŋ/。loom は元来「大きくぼんやり現れる」で、そこから looming deadline/storm/exam のように、不安を伴って目前に迫るものを表す。単なる upcoming より、脅威や圧迫感のある場面を思い浮かべる。
Looming is the present participle of loom. Simply add -ing; do not double the final m, and pronounce it /ˈluːmɪŋ/. The older visual sense of loom is to appear as a large, dark, or indistinct shape. Transfer that image to time: a looming deadline or storm seems to grow larger as it approaches. This makes the word stronger and more anxious than neutral upcoming. Learn it with threatening or stressful nouns such as crisis, deadline, storm, and exam.
例文
The team prepared for the looming deadline.
チームは迫りくる締め切りに備えました。
Dark clouds warned us of a looming storm.
黒い雲が迫りくる嵐を知らせていました。
She stayed calm despite the looming exam.
彼女は迫りくる試験にもかかわらず落ち着いていました。
looming の類義語・関連語
派生語
looming の語源・成り立ち Etymology
looming は loom の現在分詞形。loom は「ぼんやり大きく現れる」の意で、古スカンディナヴィア語系または低地ドイツ語系にさかのぼるとされる語から、遠くに不気味に姿を見せる感じが「迫りくる」へつながった。関連語は loom, loomed。
Looming is formed from the verb loom plus -ing. The verb appeared in English with the sense of coming vaguely into view as a large or threatening shape. Its earlier origin is uncertain; proposed connections include Scandinavian or Low German forms, but no single derivation is firmly established. The figurative use developed naturally: a future event can seem to rise into view and dominate attention just as a dark physical shape does.
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