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
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
The community also signed cooperation agreements with KPS, the Institute of Language Sciences of Shanghai International Studies University, AltStory, and Kuaizi, with the partnerships focused on data sets, linguistic corpus building, and research into AI agents.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 June 2026
Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
The team focused on overcoming a key limitation of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in zinc-air batteries.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
The community also signed cooperation agreements with KPS, the Institute of Language Sciences of Shanghai International Studies University, AltStory, and Kuaizi, with the partnerships focused on data sets, linguistic corpus building, and research into AI agents.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 June 2026
Noun
Long stretches of focus, poor lighting and awkward viewing distances all play a role.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
-
The California acreage is concentrated in Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Sonoma County, Lake County and the Central Coast.—
Lizzie Kane,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
Target has been concentrating on overhauling its fashions.—
Anne D'Innocenzio,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Vegas played much of the night without center William Karlsson, who was being checked out on the bench for an apparent upper-body injury.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency for Thursday and Friday, activating cooling centers, home visits by field teams, outreach to people experiencing homelessness and other services.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Use a geometry compass or a round object, like a dinner plate, to draw a smooth arch connecting these two lines.—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 June 2026
-
Having trekked the territory with his trusty surveyor’s compass, and in the absence of anyone else rash enough to do it, Washington volunteers to deliver an ultimatum to the encroaching French forces.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
12 Dec. 2025
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Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Brunson’s arrival changed the Knicks’ direction almost immediately.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
-
Second, the report grapples seriously with agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of planning, reasoning, and executing multi-step tasks without continuous human direction.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
By the end of 2025, China had set up more than 2,100 government guidance funds with target capital of over 11 trillion yuan, according to official figures.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
-
Its proximity to the fascinating capital of Kunming is also appealing for travelers who don’t intend to go to Tibet and never plan on leaving the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
That purpose might come from family, work, creativity, advocacy, faith or friendships.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
-
The company added that Atlas’s athletic feats, including handstands and backflips, serve a practical purpose by helping develop balance, agility, slip recovery, and endurance needed for real-world industrial environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
This was true throughout the neighborhood, which established itself this month as a secondary mecca for Knicks fans.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Connecticut has been a mecca for dance ever since Martha Graham created the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College in 1948.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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