zoomies
noun
| ZOO-meez
A burst of frenetic running in dogs and cats; a bout of agitation or animation
What does zoomies mean?
Zoomies refers to an outburst of frenzied activity in which an animal, typically a pet dog or cat, runs around. It is also extended metaphorically for other forms of sudden, intense energy. It frequently appears as the zoomies.
Examples of zoomies
The excitable calf has since been seen having "zoomies" - racing around other giraffes who seemed interested in their new family member.
—Aida Fofana, BBC, 13 Jun. 2024
I came home from an overnight business trip and one of my dogs threw me a giant party and lost himself in zoomies and arm licks in celebration
—oh no I got the design zoomies and redesigned my entire website again
—Sometimes I get really excited and invested in something and I can’t turn my brain off and it results in either adult zoomies or an anxiety attack.
—
Where does zoomies come from?
Zoomies is formed from zoom, “to go speedily,” and -ies, a form of the suffix -y. A technical name for the behavior, which experts often attribute to pent-up excitement, is Frenetic Random Activity Periods, or FRAP for short. Zoomies gained prominence in the 2010s, but has been in use since the 2000s.
How is zoomies used?
While zoomies is most commonly used in reference to pet dogs and cats, it also used of any animal displaying energetic activity, especially running. It is also used for a range of human behaviors and emotions, such as hyperactivity, anxiety, or intense effort.
It is frequently used in such constructions as to get or have the zoomies. An instance or act of it is sometimes referred to as a zoomie, and which singular form is occasionally used attributively, as in “Fresh snow is zoomie weather for Fido.”
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