homing

American  

[hoh-ming] / ˈhoʊ mɪŋ /

adjective

1. capable of returning home, usually over a great distance.

   We saw the homing birds at dusk.

2. guiding or directing homeward or to a destination, especially by mechanical means.

   the homing instinct; a homing beacon.

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homing British  

/ ˈhəʊmɪŋ /

noun

1. zoology relating to the ability to return home after travelling great distances

   homing instinct

2. (of an aircraft, a missile, etc) capable of guiding itself onto a target or to a specified point

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Etymology

Origin of homing

First recorded in 1860–65; home + -ing ²

Example Sentences

But homing in on the annoying and self-defeating aspects of it misses the real story of how the movement changed American society, and the world, for the better—and how Lindy West did too.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

By modifying the CAR homing device to recognize markers found on brain tumors, astrocytes could potentially be redirected from clearing debris to directly destroying tumor cells.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

Panera is homing in on employee training and making sure orders have the right food and drinks in them before they are handed off to customers, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the White House is homing in on industries critical to U.S. national security.

From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025

His homing radar was tingling like crazy now.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan