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
Parts of New Jersey that had once been centers of manufacturing, shipyards and shipping, among other industries, have since be redeveloped into upper middle-class residential units, catering to white-collar tertiary sector jobs. Andrew Depietro, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Getty Images Boeing machinists voted 64% against a new labor deal that included 35% wage increases over four years, their union said Wednesday, extending a more than five-week strike that has halted most of the company’s aircraft production, which is centered in the Seattle area. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2024 With these networks came e-mail, and with e-mail came a new approach to work centered on ongoing, ad-hoc, back-and-forth interactions that unfolded through sterile digital text. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for center 

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 31 Oct. 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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