Thesaurus results for FOCUS

focus 1 of 2

verb

Definition of focus

as in to concentrate

to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective try to focus your attention on the task at hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

focus

2 of 2

noun

ˈfō-kəs

as in center

a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest in the 19th century Paris was the focus of the art world

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in compass

a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of focus

Verb

Several candidates argued that a board focused on teaching residents best practices to maintain clean water, the local tree canopy and growing plants and food could surge back to relevance. — Beth Kassab, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026 Standard treatment options tend to focus on hormonal regulation, pharmaceuticals for mood stabilization and pain relief, or in extreme cases, hysterectomy. — IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

On Wednesday, the focus was on Birchmore's devices and her cause of death. — Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 The company plans a major expansion there starting as early as next year, and the southern part of the state was already likely to become the long-term focus for launching hundreds or even thousands of Starships a year. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for focus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus

Verb

Symptoms can be similar to depression, and can include persistent feelings of hopelessness or pessimism and difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Options on the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) jumped to more than three times the 30-day average, with 57% puts by volume and the big-money trades concentrated in bearish put-buyers.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of concentrate

Noun

Ben’s view Hoffman, who sometimes works from a small swivel chair in her children’s room, has followed a path from social video into the center of the swirling news cycles of true crime and celebrity.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
After police cordoned off an area in the city center, the situation calmed down by early Sunday morning.

— Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

This may be because there are many new hunters who either lack wilderness smarts or who have read articles in the magazines explaining how a man in the woods can find his way by taking bearings with a compass on top of a map.

— Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 5 Nov. 2026
In addition to charging your devices, this solar power bank also functions as a super-bright flashlight and a compass.

— Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of compass

Noun

Tens of thousands of people across more than 30 cities took to the streets, including in the capital Berlin and financial hub Frankfurt, in protests organized by the campaign group Gen Z regelt (Gen Z takes charge).

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026
To tout their readiness for the midterms, Fulton County officials invited media to the same sprawling elections hub where FBI agents seized more than 650 boxes of ballots and other 2020 election records nine months ago.

— Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

Keithsolis Brown and Darrell Burke were arrested Tuesday and both face capital murder charges.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
With the balance of power in Tallahassee at stake, Miami’s Republican state senators fended off tough challenges Tuesday night, while Democratic candidates flipped several South Florida state House seats for the minority party in Florida’s capital.

— Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

North Korea’s Missile Administration said its cluster warheads fall into four categories, depending on their intended purpose.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
The flashback structure doesn’t serve much of a purpose except to delay the audience’s complete endorsement of a character who, though appropriately cantankerous, is unambiguously a hero and nice guy.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of purpose

Noun

In the winter, this is one-horse town completely transforms into a mecca for serious backcountry skiers.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
But in the eight years since that location opened its doors, the brand has grown, and the mall has evolved from small art galleries into a vintage mecca.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mecca

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foci

focus

focused

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Style

“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of focus

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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