center 1 of 2

noun

ˈsen-tər How to pronounce center (audio)
Definition of centernext
1
as in hub
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest a stretch of coastline that has long been the area's center of tourism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in middle
an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface the center of the earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

center

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to consolidate
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control centered administrative duties under the command of a single person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to focus
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective the students centered their attention on final exams

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 center
Noun
Vocals strain at the center of the songs while lonesome organs burn around the margins like the argon glow of a street-sign montage. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026 This Billingsgate community has access to public transportation, golf, equestrian centers, local farm stands, hiking trails, the Farmington River, public library, and an unlimited range of eclectic dining, coffee shops and retail establishments. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
Those cases often centered on devices mistakenly activating or capturing speech that was not intended as a command. — Mackenzie Sigalos,annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026 The ownership ties open up intriguing possibilities, with speculation centering on numerous candidates to succeed Aikman. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for center
Recent Examples of Synonyms for center
  1. hub
  2. middle
  3. consolidate
  4. focus
  5. capital
  6. midst
  7. concentrate
  8. mecca
Noun
  • Culver City explored emergency moratoriums on building permits for AV fleet facilities, while Santa Monica used local noise and traffic ordinances to restrict 24-hour charging hubs.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Those improvements are expected to expand classroom and theater space and create a more centralized hub for students.
    — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of hub
Noun
  • Armstrong, appearing in his first NFL game as a rookie out of Cincinnati, hauled in a catch with an athletic play over the middle for 13 yards and a first down.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The arch would be built in the middle of a traffic circle tucked inside Washington's boundaries near Arlington National Cemetery.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of middle
Verb
  • Reiffers said the decision to consolidate ownership was driven by his desire to retain greater control over strategic decisions and invest with a longer-term horizon.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • What followed was an astonishing period in which almost all British chain bookselling consolidated itself under one man.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of consolidate
Verb
  • His great-grandson is focused on how to build a corporate culture that suits both Japan, “our mother countryâ€� and the source of more than half of the group’s sales, and the diverse expectations of 40,000 employees around the world.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of focus
Noun
  • While the company is a private-sector operator, it is backed by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and International Holding Company, which is affiliated with state capital.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also met with the Ukrainian president in Norway's capital.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of capital
Noun
  • The star’s latest real estate move comes in the midst of a tense legal battle with her ex-husband, French actor Olivier Martinez, over the custody of their teenage son.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Oregon In the midst of a quarterback controversy, the Ducks came back at the last moment to beat a solid Nebraska team.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of midst
Verb
  • The show’s creative team was able to concentrate on making the series itself rather than second-guessing every decision to appeal to the international market.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Collisions between nanoscale twins and crystal boundaries form concentrated stress points, which sprout fresh structural defects.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of concentrate
Noun
  • Food meccas include Pier 57 (hit Nom Wah for legendary dim sum, or LoLo’s on the Water for the fish fry) and, of course, Chelsea Market (try Miznon’s pita cheeseburger and roasted cauliflower, and Ayada’s mango sticky rice).
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Rubin’s face followed a skin-first technique beloved by the wider beauty mecca for the last few years.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of mecca

Phrases Containing center

Browse Nearby Words

centenarian
center
centered
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Cite this Entry

“Center.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/center. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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