Thesaurus results for FOCUS

focus 1 of 2

verb

Definition of focus

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

focus

2 of 2

noun

ˈfō-kəs

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

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

Verb

The majority of Paxton’s rally focused on religion, cutting costs of living and opposing Democratic nominee James Talarico. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 Set in 1969, the play focuses on the relationship and business partnership between Murdoch, looking to expand outside of his native Australia, and Larry Lamb, a British newspaper editor hired by Murdoch to take over and revamp The Sun. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026

Noun

Season 2 widens that footprint, extending the franchise’s musical and cultural range while keeping its focus on its traditions. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Ascherson chose a life, with its focus on seeing as much of the world as possible, that functioned as a reproach to that kind of ignorance. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for focus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for focus

Verb

Uber is also combining more teams and concentrating more employees in hubs like New York and San Francisco.

— Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Most cases were not near Pittsburgh but were instead concentrated in Lancaster County, which reported 227 infections.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of concentrate

Noun

Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
These counties have no hospitals or birth centers providing obstetric care, and no obstetric clinician.

— Kayley Corley, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

In the third volume of her Diaspora Quartet, Lee follows the Koh family from Australia to Korea to the United States as their paterfamilias John hews to his strong inner compass.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The challenge is not usually a lack of capability, but the absence of an integrated compass, alignment and feedback system.

— Kumar Rupesh, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of compass

Noun

Days later, the governors of Texas and Pennsylvania – both of whom celebrated data center projects last year – announced new restrictions on the computing hubs.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Thanks to the Romanian government’s encouragement of IT, the country became something of an outsourcing hub, with a plentiful supply of engineers.

— Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Despite years passing and their lives moving in different directions, the four come together and remember how beautiful and essential their friendship was and is.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of direction

Noun

The bank expects power networks to account for roughly one-third of group profits by 2029, up from 23% in 2025, which would help cut capital costs.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
This influences how capital is allocated, which capabilities are funded, what risks are accepted, and whether growth translates into sustainable cash flow and returns.

— Kumar Rupesh, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

The barbecue mecca in Caldwell County is home to around 18,000 people and roughly a half-hour drive from south Austin, traffic depending.

— Eleanor Dearman Updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
The popular theatre was a cultural mecca that drew thousands to its operas, ballets and other public events, and hosted legendary greats including Maria Callas and Franco Zeffirelli.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of mecca

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foci

focus

focused

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Style

“Focus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/focus. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of focus

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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