Synonyms of focus

focus 1 of 2

verb

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

• concentrate
• rivet
• center
• train
• fasten
• point
• aim
• home (in on)
• direct
• refocus
• set
• heed
• level
• zero (in on)
• attend
• mind
• nail
• fixate (on)
• hone in (on)
• obsess (over)

focus

2 of 2

noun

ˈfō-kəs 

1

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

• center
• hub
• capital
• mecca
• core
• heart
• seat
• base
• locus
• nucleus
• central
• nexus
• axis
• ground zero
• headquarters
• epicenter
• eye
• navel
• nerve center
• cynosure
• playground
• omphalos
• where it's at
• hot spot
• essence
• attraction
• hotbed
• magnet
• kernel
• hive
• nub
• pith
• happy hunting ground
• thick
• deep
• soul
• playland
• polestar
• lodestone
• quintessence

2

as in compass

a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compass
• direction
• purpose
• goal
• objective
• polestar
• aim
• cynosure
• intention
• lodestar
• criterion
• benchmark
• object
• standard
• target
• measure
• touchstone
• ambition
• grade
• aspiration
• yardstick
• dream
• par
• mark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of focus

Verb

Although much of the industry’s modernization effort has focused on managing crowded airspace, runway operations remain a persistent safety concern. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026

The White House’s vetting of AI cybersecurity risks would focus only on the top-tier products from US developers, exempting lower-cost AI software, people familiar with the matter told Politico. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

Gabbriellini’s film frames the events from a tender and poetic perspective rather than reconstructing the crime, to shift the focus to its origins, exploring the human, cultural and emotional dynamics behind it. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

But the backlash against pandemic responses, including vaccine mandates, led to the vaccines and mRNA technology being vilified by some and becoming the focus of widespread misinformation. — Rob Stein, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026