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
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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of focus
Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
To prevent wet leaves, focus on watering from the bottom.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
With the 2025 season cut shorter than they’d like, LaBonta knows the focus will now turn to 2026.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
Right now, save up to 75 percent to spend less time on the prep and more time focusing on the food.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
To prevent wet leaves, focus on watering from the bottom.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Unfortunately for the offense, Young wasn’t able to capitalize on the Saints’ focus on the run game.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
With the 2025 season cut shorter than they’d like, LaBonta knows the focus will now turn to 2026.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
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But Rose is foregoing the sport this winter to concentrate on her track career.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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The group was founded in collaboration with the public health organization Institute for Public Strategies with the primary purpose of concentrating on the environment of Lemon Grove.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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It’ll be deployed to Google DeepMind and Hyundai’s Robotics Metaplant Applications center in the coming months, and additional customers will adopt it in early 2027.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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This path begins with choosing leaders who will put principle over politics and ideology, with a promise to focus on the middle class as the center of every policy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The next year, McDermott navigated more with his own compass and the Bills went 10-6.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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How mortgage rates move the rest of the year will vary, but experts also caution against viewing economic signals as a compass for your decisions.—
Brendan Dyer,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Food hubs can increase local food access by aggregating food products from small to mid-sized farms and distributing them to underserved communities, schools, hospitals and retail stores.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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The flight originated in Alexandria, Louisiana, home to the largest deportation hub in the United States, then made a stop in Atlanta, and continued south to Tapachula, according to ICE Flight Monitor, which tracks ICE flight data on behalf of Human Rights First, an advocacy group.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At a moment of increasing niche-ification of the news media business, Axel Springer is running in the opposite direction.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Automation can go in either of these directions; that’s why the task of the left is to create social and cultural conditions in which the benign and constructive aspects of technology and automation are primary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Though Andrea was found guilty of capital murder in 2002, her conviction was reversed.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
And investments are only expected to grow, with Goldman Sachs reporting that AI companies are estimated to invest more than $500 billion in capital expenditures this year.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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The core purpose of Taste Addison – promoting Addison's 200+ restaurants – will be reenvisioned to include new, year-round options to support and elevate North Texas' most vibrant dining hub.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Frequenting some of the city’s smaller concert venues that help Chicago thrive as a live-music mecca.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
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Furano, Japan Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is a powder mecca.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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