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
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Style it as the focal point in a blue bedroom, use it to liven up a white bedroom with soft neutrals, or focus on the blooms in yellow and hints of soft pink that can pair with warmer colors to tie the space together.
—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
The changing rhetoric comes as elections approach, putting more focus on domestic issues.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Verb
The segment of its agricultural business focusing on large farms, where sales slumped 14% in Q1, and management sees slipping 5% to 10% this year, according to the company’s latest earnings presentation.
—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Style it as the focal point in a blue bedroom, use it to liven up a white bedroom with soft neutrals, or focus on the blooms in yellow and hints of soft pink that can pair with warmer colors to tie the space together.
—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Noun
Mining will serve as the partnership’s initial focus before expanding into other industrial applications.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
The changing rhetoric comes as elections approach, putting more focus on domestic issues.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for focus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus
Verb
-
Control concentrated in one person dies with that person, decays with that person's judgment, and converts to cash the day that person takes a hard enough offer.
-
Unlike Chicago, San Francisco or Philadelphia, Charlotte doesn’t have a historic LGBTQ district, and its bars and businesses remain scattered across neighborhoods rather than concentrated in one area.
Noun
-
The story begins with the historic building designed by Edward Durrell Stone in the 1960s as the World Trade Center, with a cruciform plan that nodded to the four corners of the compass and New Orleans’ place as a center of international commerce.
-
All that was missing from the game was a rusty shiv in the center circle.
Noun
-
Atop the Go board there lies a compass whose dials swing chaotically.
-
The Ti-Trailblazer takes a unique approach by making a compass its main feature and building 10 additional tools around it.
Noun
-
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
-
If a robot starts patrolling your local garage, mall, park or transit hub, do not get distracted by the cool tech factor.
Noun
-
Follow the specific directions from your doctor and the exact type of medicine, first and foremost.
-
The 2026 Honor Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of Boise State professor Phil Hartman, filled the air with festive tunes in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Noun
-
The action required is not cultural goodwill but actual capital, flowing from institutions, from investors, and from women with wealth toward the work of building these tables.
-
Downtown Sacramento was awash in Dodger blue as thousands of fans poured into the capital city for a three-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the A’s that concludes Wednesday.
Noun
-
There were other reminders as well, some less subtle than others, of the true purpose of Congress.
-
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Noun
-
The fest is becoming a beacon for those who still pine for former jam meccas like Gathering of the Vibes, Wakarusa, Rothbury, and 10,000 Lakes.
-
This was true throughout the neighborhood, which established itself this month as a secondary mecca for Knicks fans.
Cite this Entry
“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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