focus

1 of 2

noun

fo·​cus ˈfō-kəs 

plural foci ˈfō-ˌsī 

 also  -ˌkī

also focuses

1

a

: a center of activity, attraction, or attention

the focus of the meeting was drug abuse

put immigration into focus as a hot topic for commentators

b

: a point of concentration

2

: directed attention : emphasis

The focus is on helping the homeless.

3

a

: direction sense 6c

the team lost focus

b

: a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding

tried to bring the issues into focus

c

: adjustment for distinct vision

also : the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image

d

: focal length

4

a

: a point at which rays (as of light, heat, or sound) converge or from which they diverge or appear to diverge

specifically : the point where the geometrical lines or their prolongations conforming to the rays diverging from or converging toward another point intersect and give rise to an image after reflection by a mirror or refraction by a lens or optical system

b

: a point of convergence (see convergence sense 1) of a beam of particles (such as electrons)

5

: one of the fixed points that with the corresponding directrix defines a conic section

6

: a localized area of disease or the chief site of a generalized disease or infection

7

: the place of origin of an earthquake or moonquake

focusless

ˈfō-kəs-ləs 

adjective

focus

2 of 2

verb

focused also focussed; focusing also focussing

transitive verb

1

: to cause to be concentrated

focused their attention on the most urgent problems

2

a

: to adjust the focus of (the eye, a lens, etc.)

focus the telescope

b

: to bring into focus

The results of that research were focused for classroom presentation.

3

: to bring (something, such as light rays) to a focus : concentrate

intransitive verb

1

: to concentrate attention or effort

focus on the most pressing needs

2

: to adjust one's eye or a camera to a particular range

Newborn babies cannot focus for several months.

3

: to come to a focus : converge

focusable

ˈfō-kə-sə-bəl 

adjective

focuser noun

Phrases

in focus

: having or giving the proper sharpness of outline due to good focusing

get the binoculars in focus

out of focus

: not in focus

Did you know?

The Latin word focus meant “hearth, fireplace.” In the scientific Latin of the 17th century, the word is used to refer to the point at which rays of light refracted by a lens converge. Because rays of sunlight when directed by a magnifying glass can produce enough heat to ignite paper, a word meaning “fireplace” is quite appropriate as a metaphor to describe their convergence point. From this sense of focus have arisen extended senses such as “center of activity.”

Synonyms

Noun

• axis
• base
• capital
• center
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• locus
• mecca
• navel
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

Verb

• center
• concentrate
• fasten
• rivet
• train

Examples of focus in a Sentence

Noun

He's successful, but he feels that his life lacks focus.

His life lacks a focus.

Verb

She has an amazing ability to focus for hours at a time.

I wasn't able to focus the camera.

I wasn't able to get the camera to focus.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The reports from the Indonesian Hospital come after weeks of focus on Gaza’s main medical facility, Al-Shifa, which Israeli forces stormed for days. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to have met his main goal which was to really lower the temperature of tensions to allow more focus on his economy, which after decades of high-speed growth is now slowing down. —ABC News, 19 Nov. 2023

Israel has made northern Gaza the focus of its initial ground incursion, sending tanks to divide the territory in two, while urging hundreds of thousands of residents to leave for the south. —Loay Ayyoub, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023

From there, Ramona goes on her own mission, reckoning with past relationships and coming into clearer focus as a character. —Alison Herman, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

While serious football fans want the focus to stay on football, the NFL is smart to capitalize on this opportunity. —Angeline Close Scheinbaum, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2023

Her focus is on making sure their integration is safe and nurtured. —Danae King, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Nov. 2023

With its design ethos and ecological focus, Manapany represents the next wave of Caribbean hotels. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023

Also, breastfeeding thumbnails with focus on breasts without visible areola can now earn ad revenue. —Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 17 Nov. 2023

Verb

Try breaking it down by choosing one of the four parts of the portfolio diet to focus on at a time. —Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Rd, Health, 21 Nov. 2023

Both made MoMa’s list of 2023 Contenders, focused on influential, innovative films made in the past 12 months that MoMa believes will stand the test of time. —John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023

The transition period needs to be focused on building a viable, sustainable, successful Palestinian state. —Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023

The magazine is supposed to focus on the person, on the designer rather than the work of the designer. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023

In Sacramento, Rivas chairs the Natural Resources Committee, enabling her to use her extensive background in science to focus on policy that addresses extreme heat, which has been devastating for her community. —Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023

The resurrection of the Palestinian issue has focused regional attention once again on the Levant. —Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023

For example, in Paris, travelers can participate in an excursion focused on dancer, singer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2023

But the celebratory affair, which is being attended by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and team executives, formally ushers in the franchise’s next chapter as an entity that must, without delay, focus its attention on building something of tangible significance. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

New Latin, from Latin, hearth

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing focus

• deep focus
• into focus
• soft-focus
• focus group
• real focus
• out of focus
• in focus

• deep focus
• into focus
• soft-focus
• focus group
• real focus
• out of focus
• in focus

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Kids Definition

focus

1 of 2 noun

fo·​cus ˈfō-kəs 

plural foci -ˌsī  also focuses

1

: a point at which rays (as of light, heat, or sound) meet or from which they draw apart or appear to draw apart

especially : the point at which an image is formed by a mirror, lens, or optical system

2

a

: focal length

b

: adjustment (as of the eye or binoculars) for clear vision

bring into focus

3

: one of the two points within an ellipse the sum of whose distances from any point on the ellipse is a constant number

4

: a center of activity or interest

5

: the starting point of an earthquake

focus

2 of 2 verb

focused also focussed; focusing also focussing

1

a

: to bring into focus

b

: to adjust the focus of

focus a telescope

2

: to cause to be concentrated

focus attention on a problem

3

: to bring to a focus

focus rays of light

4

: to come to a focus

5

: to adjust one's eye or a camera to a certain range

Medical Definition

focus

1 of 2 noun

fo·​cus ˈfō-kəs 

plural foci

ˈfō-ˌsī also -ˌkī

also focuses

1

a

: a point at which rays (as of light, heat, or sound) converge or from which they diverge or appear to diverge

specifically : the point where the geometrical lines or their prolongations conforming to the rays diverging from or converging toward another point intersect and give rise to an image after reflection by a mirror or refraction by a lens or optical system

b

: a point of convergence of a beam of particles (as electrons)

2

a

: focal length

b

: adjustment for distinct vision

also : the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image

3

: a localized area of disease or the chief site of a generalized disease or infection

focus

2 of 2 verb

focused also focussed; focusing also focussing

transitive verb

1

: to bring (as light rays) to a focus

2

a

: to adjust the focus of (as the eye or a lens)

b

: to bring (as an image) into focus

intransitive verb

1

: to come to a focus

2

: to adjust one's eye or a camera to a particular range

focusable

-kəs-ə-bəl 

adjective