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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of focus
Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026
Butler has focused on education, funding a scholarship for criminal justice students at Miramar High School in her son's name.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 23 May 2026
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 24 May 2026
Accountability became a focus of the crisis on Saturday night.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
Abroad, Putin focused on forming a moat of buffer countries, a gray zone between the East and the West.
—Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026
Butler has focused on education, funding a scholarship for criminal justice students at Miramar High School in her son's name.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 23 May 2026
Noun
Even Nyro’s piano playing seems to shift in and out of focus, drawing our attention to the pregnant pause of a note fading in a quiet room.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 24 May 2026
Accountability became a focus of the crisis on Saturday night.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 24 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
-
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
-
In true Swiss fashion, Wengen features a number of chalet-style homes, snowcapped mountains, and bucolic scenes in nearly every direction.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
The average song length is around four minutes, and each one covers so much ground, changes direction so suddenly, and welcomes so many lyrical interpretations, that each of them can feel like the centerpiece, the moment where the central action takes place.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
24 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
-
For tax purposes, the Collin County Appraisal District valued the property at nearly $2 million.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
-
For Morrison, that’s the purpose of having open-endedness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 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
-
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 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
