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

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 See All Example Sentences for focus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus

Verb

Residents said the procedure concentrated flights over communities that previously experienced fewer direct overflights.

— Kenny Choi, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
These cumulative burdens are often concentrated in communities that have experienced long-term disinvestment, including limited infrastructure spending, fewer business loans and lower property investment, often rooted in practices such as redlining.

— Mahbubur Meenar, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of concentrate

Noun

Iran has issued a list of concessions the US must make in order for the vital Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, once again bringing the waterway center-stage in Tehran’s dealings with Washington.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
His early memories center on 2005’s Axis of Evil tour, during which Ahmed Ahmed, Maz Jobrani, Aron Kader, and Dean Obeidallah set out to contend with an American public still living under the cloud of the World Trade Center attack.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

The city is an important oil refining hub, home to two refineries and a petrochemical plant.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
In Salisbury, which has become a hub for Haitians who work in nearby factories and farms, ICE recently started detaining people in parking lots and other areas immigrants frequent, according to Fouché of Safe Harbor Circles.

— Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

Fellow defender William Gallas may have gone in the opposite direction to Tottenham (also on a free) a few years later, but nothing has compared to Campbell’s move since.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
The Gemini Moon moves through your 11th House of Friends and Community and sextiles Saturn in your 9th House of Vision, helping conversations become plans with real direction.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of direction

Noun

Those seriously hurt were transported 43 miles away to the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, Debre Birhan.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
The sticky wicket, which has been the stickiest for AI-tech megacaps, is investor angst around capital expenditures and a sluggish pace of return that could send the stock on a nosedive.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

The popular theatre was a cultural mecca that drew thousands to its operas, ballets and other public events, and hosted legendary greats including Maria Callas and Franco Zeffirelli.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The long-standing problem is that Skid Row is both a social service center and a mecca of drugs and other vices, with traps on every block.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 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 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of focus

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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