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
Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
Founded in 1997, the winery was among the first in Napa to focus exclusively on single-vineyard, single-varietal wines, meaning each bottle is tied to one specific site.
—Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Although the Air Force shifted its primary focus toward HACM, elements of ARRW continue to influence newer hypersonic efforts and follow-on concepts.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
But by focusing on what AI can make possible, the deeper questions these predictions miss is who will control those possibilities, and beyond job loss or gain, what kind of work is left behind.
—Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026
Founded in 1997, the winery was among the first in Napa to focus exclusively on single-vineyard, single-varietal wines, meaning each bottle is tied to one specific site.
—Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
Barrel Proof in Germantown is the rare combination of world-class and unpretentious, a neighborhood bar with over 300 bottles, roughly 80 percent of them whiskey, with a particular focus on Tennessee labels.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Although the Air Force shifted its primary focus toward HACM, elements of ARRW continue to influence newer hypersonic efforts and follow-on concepts.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
-
Philadelphia’s urban structure also works in its favor as activity is concentrated in a highly walkable downtown core.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Nearly 20% of new homes saw price cuts in the fourth quarter of 2025, concentrated in the South and West, Fortune reported in February, with Texas accounting for a disproportionate share of listings with price reductions.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
As part of the city’s annual budget process, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released a 40-page analysis in April ranking the city’s 56 recreation centers based on what the report considered their importance to their communities.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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The work is part of a larger effort statewide to update the National Guard’s armories, as renovations in recent years have either been completed or are planned at many readiness centers, including those in Brainerd, New Ulm, Marshall, Moorhead and Fergus Falls.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps the coolest bit is the clock in the top-right corner, which, at the press of a button, cycles into a 60-second stopwatch, and then a compass.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
26 May 2026
-
So many role-playing games spoonfeed you with compasses and waypoints and fourth-wall-breaking warnings.—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
Archer is scaling for the mega sporting event and attempting to build an operational hub for the area's impending air taxi network.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Since the Miss Universe Cuba franchise was established in Miami under the direction of Venezuelan lawyer and designer Prince Julio César in 2024, the city has become a hub for training beauty queens of Cuban origin who represent the island in international competitions.—
Sarah Moreno
May 31,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
-
The election is widely viewed as a verdict on the turbulent presidency of Gustavo Petro, who came to power in 2022, and on the future direction of Colombia’s political and economic model.—
Sebastian Jimenez,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Splendid indeed are the flowers of the capital, but how could a mountain tree such as myself ever have hoped to rival them?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
The bank, Khanna said, would provide capital to businesses trying to build or produce things critical to the national interest, whether that’s steel, autos or energy.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
My novel is about that sea-change and the search for purpose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
While there is nothing particularly Jordanian about the design, the interiors serve multiple purposes for visiting business travelers and tourists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
As anyone who's come within a hundred miles of the city will tell you, Nashville is a live-music mecca, overflowing with boot-stomping, fiddle-playing entertainment.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
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Once the snow melts, the resort transforms into a downhill mountain biking mecca featuring more than 80 miles of singletrack.—
Sharael Kolberg,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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