center

1 of 2

noun

cen·​ter ˈsen-tər How to pronounce center (audio)
ˈse-nər
1
a
: the point around which a circle or sphere is described
broadly : a point that is related to a geometrical figure in such a way that for any point on the figure there is another point on the figure such that a straight line joining the two points is bisected by the original point

called also center of symmetry

b
: the center of the circle inscribed in a regular (see regular entry 1 sense 3b) polygon
2
a
: a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition
a railroad center
the center of the controversy
b
: a source from which something originates
a propaganda center
c
: a group of neurons having a common function
respiratory center
d
: a region of concentrated population
an urban center
e
: a facility providing a place for a particular activity or service
a day-care center
a shopping center
a medical center
3
a
: the middle part (as of the forehead or a stage)
b often capitalized
(1)
: a grouping of political figures holding moderate views especially between those of conservatives and liberals
(2)
: the views of such politicians
The party's new policies show a shift toward the center.
(3)
: the adherents of such views
4
a
: a player occupying a middle position on a team: such as
(1)
: the football player in the middle of a line who passes the ball between his legs to a back to start a down
(2)
: the usually tallest player on a basketball team who usually plays near the basket
5
a
: either of two tapered rods which support work in a lathe or grinding machine and about or with which the work revolves
b
: a conical recess in the end of work (such as a shaft) for receiving such a center
centerless
ˈsen-tər-ləs How to pronounce center (audio)
ˈse-nər-
adjective

center

2 of 2

verb

centered; centering ˈsen-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce center (audio)
ˈse-nər-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to place or fix at or around a center or central area
center the picture on the wall
2
: to give a central focus or basis
centers her hopes on her son
the plot was centered on espionage
3
: to adjust (things, such as lenses) so that the axes coincide
4
a
: to pass (a ball or puck) from either side toward the middle of the playing area
b
: to hand or pass (a football) backward between one's legs to a back (see back entry 1 sense 3) to start a down
5
: to play center (see center entry 1 sense 4) on
center a line in hockey

intransitive verb

: to have a specified center : focus
What prepositions are used with center?: Usage Guide

The intransitive verb center is most commonly used with the prepositions in, on, at, and around. At appears to be favored in mathematical contexts; the others are found in a broad range of contexts. Center around, a standard idiom, has often been objected to as illogical. The logic on which the objections are based is irrelevant, since center around is an idiom and idioms have their own logic. Center on is currently more common in edited prose, and revolve around and similar verbs are available if you want to avoid center around.

Examples of center in a Sentence

Noun the center of the room The staircase is in the center of the building. They are at the center of a furious debate over whether or not to expand the city's public transportation system. The vaccine is being tested at several medical centers around the country. Verb Center the picture on the wall. centered administrative duties under the command of a single person
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
More than a decade in the making, Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is unleashing its wheeled robots into the center of car culture with a machine devoid of the distinctly human emotions of road rage and commuter manners. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The past two years the festival had upwards of 100 people come out and rip along the wood ramps and concrete half pipes, riders launching naked over the burning flames of the brown carcass of a car in the center of the pit. Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024 But how to understand the pileup of body parts and overlapping planes that form a vast triangle at the center of the picture? Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Goggle straps should come across the center of the back of the head for better performance and comfort. Ambrosia V. Brody, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 The center of the mattress, for instance, has a high concentration of high-gauge coils to provide your lumbar spine with extra support. Sarah Madaus, Allure, 14 Mar. 2024 The office only recently obtained the records from federal prosecutors, who years ago investigated the same hush-money payments at the center of the case. William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The former Oakland police captain at the center of a misconduct cover-up scandal last year claims in a new federal lawsuit that he was unfairly blamed for a subordinate officer’s mishandling of an internal affairs investigation. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 That may be why a restaurant at the center of the CDC investigation – identified by a state report as Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman, Montana – featured morels as a part of a special sushi roll made with salmon and a handful of other menu items between March and April 2023. Jen Christensen, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Another large part of the conversation centered on reinvesting in neighborhoods that have been neglected by the city and advocating for funding for initiatives in those communities. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 Her showcase was the first time the museum held an exhibit about clothing that was centered around a living person who wasn’t a designer. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The musical, created by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, is centered around Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 His campaign for Contra Costa County is centered on three core pillars: government accountability, public safety and economic development. Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Achieving Positive Change Businesses and employees will gain when a servant leadership strategy is centered on the leader altering their behavior rather than trying to change others' minds. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The film centers on a legend that Plovers are the couriers of spring and without them summer won’t come to the northern hemisphere. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Data centers house servers, networking equipment and other apparatus, usually in unobtrusive, nondescript buildings. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Both the Royals and QuikTrip are coming together to feature a jersey patch that is centered around an investment in literacy and the community. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'center.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English centre, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin centrum "point of the stationary leg of a pair of compasses, midpoint of a circle or sphere," borrowed from Greek kéntron "sting, goad, point, stationary point of a pair of compasses, midpoint of a circle or sphere," probably reshaping (after the base verb kenteîn) of késtron "toothed implement, name for several nettle-like plants," from kentéō, kenteîn "to sting, goad, prick" (going back to Indo-European *ḱent-, *ḱnt- "sting, prick," whence Old High German hantag "pointed," Latvian sīts "hunting spear") + -tron, suffix of instruments

Verb

derivative of center entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of center was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near center

Cite this Entry

“Center.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/center. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

center

1 of 2 noun
cen·​ter ˈsent-ər How to pronounce center (audio)
1
: the point inside a circle or sphere that is an equal distance from all the points on the edge
2
a
: a place in or around which an activity takes place or from which something begins
the center of the scandal
b
: a place for a particular activity or service
a day-care center
c
: a group of neurons that have a common purpose
respiratory center
3
: the middle part (as of a stage)
4
: a player occupying a middle position on a team

center

2 of 2 verb
centered; centering ˈsent-ə-riŋ How to pronounce center (audio)
ˈsen-triŋ
1
: to place or fix at or around a center or central area
2
: to give a central focus
the story is centered on his adventures
3
: to collect at or around a center

Medical Definition

center

noun
cen·​ter
variants or chiefly British centre
: a group of nerve cells having a common function
the brain stem's respiratory center

called also nerve center

More from Merriam-Webster on center

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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