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

When lifting, focus on slow and controlled movements to get muscle engagement and prevent injury. — Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Her work also focuses on whether gut health is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Noun

Seemingly divergent policies from the US Federal Reserve and Treasury will be a key focus at a gathering of global central bankers, with bond yields nearing record highs and little respite on the horizon from dizzying global government debt levels. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Those powerful bikes have been the focus of the most scrutiny. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for focus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus

Verb

The local enrollment declines are mostly concentrated in local districts’ elementary schools.

— Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
Affordable housing production is increasingly concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods, while wealthier communities add fewer affordable homes.

— David Schwartz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of concentrate

Noun

Rosignoli also recommended the Museo Civico Naturalistico-Archeologico in Vicenza, which has finds from Lake Fimon and Teatro Berga, an actual Roman theater that once stood in the city center.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The Fever played without center Aliyah Boston, who was sidelined by a right leg injury.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

Along with trying to shave the Republican advantage in the district's dozen-plus rural counties, Bohannan is also trying to gain a foothold in its more urban and suburban hubs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
The Santa Fe Plaza, the center of the original Spanish walled city, remains the cultural hub of downtown.

— Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

Cleveland Police said a Volkswagen Passat carrying five members of the public was traveling the wrong way down the A66 highway near Middlesbrough and collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Instead of constantly clutching it and taking it out of your bag for photos and map directions, a strap keeps your phone hands-free, secure, and instantly accessible.

— Annita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of direction

Noun

Drivers in the Iranian capital of Tehran are experiencing long lines at gas stations and temporary fuel shortages, according to Iranian news agencies, although authorities have insisted the overall fuel supply chain remains stable.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
The precedent for what happens when that capital moves quickly is March 2020, when a rapid unwind of leveraged positions contributed to a breakdown of Treasury-market liquidity severe enough to require Federal Reserve intervention.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

Anthropic wanted assurance that its technology would not be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, and the DOD wanted Anthropic to grant the agency unfettered access to Claude across all lawful purposes.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Thankfully, his reappearance in the show actually has a deeper purpose.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of purpose

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

Browse Nearby Words

foci

focus

focused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of focus

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

illustrious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes