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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of focus
Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Porter focused on cutting bureaucracy, calling for a single statewide development permit to streamline approvals and reduce delays.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Counter-drone systems were another major focus, with Chinese companies displaying technologies designed to detect, disrupt and neutralise hostile unmanned aircraft.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
Redick focuses fully on each one at a time.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Porter focused on cutting bureaucracy, calling for a single statewide development permit to streamline approvals and reduce delays.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Noun
Smith believes the willingness of star players such as Wilson and Swanson — and before them, Alex Morgan and Manchester United’s Hannah Blundell — has brought important focus to the issue of motherhood in soccer.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Counter-drone systems were another major focus, with Chinese companies displaying technologies designed to detect, disrupt and neutralise hostile unmanned aircraft.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
-
In all, six of the seven most dangerous states are concentrated in the South and Mountain-West regions.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The workers getting squeezed today are concentrated in a particular kind of role, at a particular kind of company, in a particular geography.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At that time, around 200 public hospitals, along with federally qualified health centers, were eligible for 340B pricing.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Values act as both a compass and a driving force, pointing you toward the right goals and motivating you to pursue them.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Alignment lasers and the ship’s gyro-compass ensured the rotors were plumb and correctly oriented.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Travellers flying in or out of the hub ogled the spectacle, a display of sudden corporate collapse.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
His own aspirations have pulled him in several directions.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The team used high-resolution satellite images taken before and after the event to reconstruct the shape and geometry of the slide, as well as its axis and direction.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge had six nights off between Games 1 and 2 of their series, with Game 2 taking place Friday night in Canada’s capital.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
Christopher Cann Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said in a public address that a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
This approach builds upon the original intent of the Donohoe Act, which began with positive goals but did not fully achieve its purpose.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
The city has banned an arm in common use for lawful purposes by law-abiding citizens.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Houston is a mecca for high-calorie delicious meals.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Mack Lewis Gym, which is a huge boxing mecca.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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