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
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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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of focus
Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
The sketch comes as the sitting president continues to befuddle many Americans with his focus on tariffs and his platforming of Musk’s push to cut federal workers while stock prices continue to plunge.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Now, a lot of headlines focus on the U.S. and President Trump’s policies, including a more isolationist approach, that divide the country.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for focus
Noun
That shift in approach reinforced an important lesson: Instead of stretching shoulders, the focus should be on restoring proper muscle activation, optimizing alignment and enhancing movement patterns.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
The sketch comes as the sitting president continues to befuddle many Americans with his focus on tariffs and his platforming of Musk’s push to cut federal workers while stock prices continue to plunge.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Prior to this two-game stretch, most of the conversation surrounding Ware was focused on his lack of late-game playing time.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Now, a lot of headlines focus on the U.S. and President Trump’s policies, including a more isolationist approach, that divide the country.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Noun
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Southwest Coast Though the wild, untamed north and forested center of Grenada are well worth a visit, most travelers stick almost exclusively to the sandy southwest coast.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
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The puzzle at the center of The Accountant 2 matters insofar as the film needs a narrative propellant.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Without a compass to explore a piece so strange as this one, most people seemed content to capture it all on their phones.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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This means a traditional compass will not work there.—
Jake Parks,
Discover Magazine,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The strategic testing method makes tests run shorter while concentrating on the areas that need attention.—
Sai Sandeep Ogety,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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In cold weather, the fluid circulating through the geothermal system’s underground plastic pipes absorbs the relatively warm temperature of the earth and brings it back to home heat pumps, which concentrate the heat and send it into homes.—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While Georgia, Texas, California, New York, and Florida lead as the top states for engagement—with Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles as primary hubs—HillmanTok reaches users across all fifty states.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
12 Mar. 2025
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And this week, according to Amazon’s Movers and Shakers List (a hub that features the site’s trending products), shoppers are picking up a variety of time-saving gadgets and helpful tools for the kitchen.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The home at 2195 Dias Dr. — which sits on nearly 99 acres with unobstructed views in every direction — is on the market for $2.25 million.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
15 Mar. 2025
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The orchestra has no music director to push it in this or that direction.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Finnish goalie was on the other side of the Ullmark trade that brought the latter to Canada’s capital.—
Julian McKenzie,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
After the acquittal, rare in capital murder cases in Tarrant County, Delancy, who is 34, was to be released from jail on Wednesday evening.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Your personal changes will offer clarity and revision and give you a purpose that makes life worth living.—
Eugenia Last,
The Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2025
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Treasuries have been around for a long time, but their underlying purpose is debatable at best.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Carolinas’ food mecca of Charleston. California, then back. Management, failures and burnout.—
Jenny Hartley,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2025
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The celebrated Park Forest Plaza — one of the first suburban shopping malls in America, which had siphoned commerce from former shopping meccas such as downtown Chicago Heights — was one-upped in turn by Matteson’s indoor Lincoln Mall.—
Paul Eisenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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