Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

focus

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of focus

1 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 of focus

axis, base, capital, center, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat
Words Related to focus

headquarters

happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland

kernel, nub, pith

deep, thick

essence, quintessence, soul

attraction, lodestone (also loadstone), magnet, polestar
Phrases Synonymous with focus

where it's at

2 a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

  • a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus
Synonyms of focus

compass, cynosure, direction, lodestar (also loadstar), polestar
Words Related to focus

benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick

aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

focus

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of focus

to fix (as oneʼs attention) steadily toward a central objective

  • try to focus your attention on the task at hand
Synonyms of focus

center, concentrate, fasten, rivet, train
Words Related to focus

aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on)

attend, heed, mind

fixate (on), obsess (over)

refocus

Learn More about focus

  1. See words that rhyme with focus Dictionary: Definition of focus Medical Dictionary: Definition of focus Spanish Central: Translation of focus Nglish: Translation of focus for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of focus for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up focus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games