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

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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

Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
These counties have no hospitals or birth centers providing obstetric care, and no obstetric clinician.

— Kayley Corley, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

Days later, the governors of Texas and Pennsylvania – both of whom celebrated data center projects last year – announced new restrictions on the computing hubs.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Thanks to the Romanian government’s encouragement of IT, the country became something of an outsourcing hub, with a plentiful supply of engineers.

— Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Despite years passing and their lives moving in different directions, the four come together and remember how beautiful and essential their friendship was and is.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 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 barbecue mecca in Caldwell County is home to around 18,000 people and roughly a half-hour drive from south Austin, traffic depending.

— Eleanor Dearman Updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of mecca

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foci

focus

focused

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“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of focus

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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