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
Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
This one, clearly the focus piece of the outfit, is a warm, chocolate-brown color with cream shearling lining and trim, including a cape-like hood in the back.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2025
Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Their efforts focus on solving key challenges that have impeded the advancement of fusion technology for over seventy years.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for focus 
Noun
But, inside a federal courthouse in Brooklyn this week, the focus wasn’t squarely on Anthony’s legendary basketball career that spanned 19 seasons in the NBA, or even his budding post-retirement exploits.
—Melanie Anzidei, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
This one, clearly the focus piece of the outfit, is a warm, chocolate-brown color with cream shearling lining and trim, including a cape-like hood in the back.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
Since so much attention is focused on Whitmore’s offensive contributions (his 10-point, 4-for-6 shooting first quarter against Cleveland, for starters), his effectiveness at the other end often goes unnoticed.
—Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Their efforts focus on solving key challenges that have impeded the advancement of fusion technology for over seventy years.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Noun
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Miller has pivoted between center and wing more recently, so there’s the potential for some interchange there.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
-
These centers manage air traffic for some of the nation's busiest airports—Newark, J.F.K., and LaGuardia—which collectively handled 1.2 million flights last year.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Let your shared vision — to help students fulfill their dreams — be the compass that guides your governance.—
Bridget Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
-
But since Brexit, the U.K. has been economically and strategically off compass.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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They are primarily concentrated in Hawaii, but also in California including in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.—
Stephanie Lam,
The Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2025
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That growth was mostly concentrated in the Southeast, including the Philly region.—
Mike D'Onofrio,
Axios,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The appeal lies in creating a space where New Yorkers can enjoy exceptional service, free parking (a rarity in the region), and an experience that feels just as special as a trip to Manhattan’s luxury hubs.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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That will include shifting some production — particularly control room production — from New York and Washington, D.C., to CNN’s Atlanta hub.—
Alex Weprin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
This round of executive orders points in the right direction.—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
25 Jan. 2025
-
What shines through loud and clear is the importance of the feelings of self-confidence and direction engendered by acquiring such wilderness skills and deploying them successfully.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Her home takes its cues from Milan design, mixing vintage and artisanal pieces, a style Elsesser has been drawn to since her many travels to Italy’s fashion capital.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
24 Jan. 2025
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Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal (Yucatán) Photo by Richie Chan/Shutterstock The Maya were never centralized in one capital.—
John Newton,
AFAR Media,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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While the crew endured the challenges of confinement for the sake of science, their work embodies a larger purpose: enabling future explorers to journey farther and stay longer.—
Anastasia Stepanova,
Space.com,
2 Feb. 2025
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However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Creating an even larger mecca for the music lover is an exciting prospect, especially for our intimate live events, where the world’s most exciting artists perform in-store for the admission of purchasing their new album.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
23 Jan. 2025
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Although better known as a mecca for fashion and style, Milan is the capital of the agriculture-rich Lombardy region, ensuring that restaurants and home cooks can access fresh, high-quality local ingredients.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near focus
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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