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
Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
Douglas’ focus drops and an inability to win contested catches at a high enough rate can’t be overlooked, though.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
For now, the focus will be on working through the rest of the legislative and financial checkpoints to be able to enter into the demolition that allows for the building of the new stadium.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
The company identified Gen X as one of its biggest opportunities given its spending power and focus on luxury beauty.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
Douglas’ focus drops and an inability to win contested catches at a high enough rate can’t be overlooked, though.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Scientists fear the moves will collapse broad investment in fundamental research and talent development, replacing it with a narrow focus on AI, while potentially ceding American scientific dominance to global competitors.
—National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
For now, the focus will be on working through the rest of the legislative and financial checkpoints to be able to enter into the demolition that allows for the building of the new stadium.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
-
Consultancy Greysparks highlighted that more than 81% of private credit assets under management sit at firms that also run private equity funds, underscoring how concentrated the market is among large private capital managers.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Cole found that he was still traumatized by the abuse and had a hard time concentrating.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In sixth inning, Villa Park tied the score 2-2 on a two-out infield single by speedy center fielder Shea Gonzalez.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Iran has also conducted drone strikes that damaged data centers in the region that are owned by Amazon Web Services, which operates the world’s largest cloud platform—high-value targets with major financial and operational ramifications.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alignment lasers and the ship’s gyro-compass ensured the rotors were plumb and correctly oriented.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The wind is coming to you from every corner of the compass.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The city’s brand — a safe, efficient, business-friendly hub for capital, tourism, logistics, and talent — was suddenly under scrutiny from investors, multinational executives, and residents who had chosen to build their businesses and lives there.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The royal, 43, made the trip to highlight the hub's approach to electrification, innovation and sustainability.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Sixers’ Nick Nurse is widely believed to be under pressure too, meaning Sunday’s loss to Boston, which put them in a 3-1 hole, qualifies as a step in the wrong direction.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As the Moon moves through your 11th House of Friends, collaboration brings fresh direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Thanks to their Thursday-night maneuvering, the Niners now possess the extra draft capital necessary to package some picks and jump back up to grab another Top 50 prospect.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Saudis wanted to attract Western business, and to have Riyadh supplant Abu Dhabi and Dubai as the Middle East’s economic capital.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Princess Elizabeth and her family toured the Sandringham Park grounds, which were being used for agricultural purposes to contribute to the war efforts, in August 1943.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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William West | Afp | Getty Images Shares in Japan's largest defense company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries climbed nearly 4% Monday after the country finalized an agreement with Australia for building three general purpose frigates.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Today, the family reveres New York City — and not just as a mecca for fashion.—
Randee Dawn,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Tullman’s new complex will, of course, hardly stand alone in a city that long has been a mecca for magic.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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