Focus — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈfō-kəs/ fo·cus

Meaning & Definition of Focus

Focus (noun)

  1. a center of activity, attraction, or attention
  2. a point of concentration
  3. directed attention, emphasis

Focus (verb)

  1. to cause to be concentrated
  2. to adjust the focus of (the eye, a lens, etc.)
  3. to bring into focus

Focus (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective

    "try to focus your attention on the task at hand"

    similar: center, concentrate, fasten, rivet, train
    related: aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on), attend, heed, mind, fixate (on), obsess (over), refocus

Focus (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: axis, base, capital, center, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat, where it's at
    related: headquarters, happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland, kernel, nub, pith, deep, thick, essence, quintessence, soul, attraction, lodestone, magnet, polestar

  2. a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

    "a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus"

    similar: compass, cynosure, direction, lodestar, polestar
    related: benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

Related Entry: Focus (on) (verb)

Focus (on) is a different word from Focus. The synonyms below are for focus (on), not for focus.

  1. as in concentrate (on), zero (in on)

    similar: buckle (down to), concentrate (on), knuckle down (to), zero (in on), address, approach, face, fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down), attack, dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into), pursue, take up, undertake
    opposite: avoid, evade, shun, dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Focus

The most common words with a similar meaning to Focus:

center, concentrate, fasten, rivet, train, axis, base, capital, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat, compass, direction, lodestar, polestar, where it's at

Related Words for Focus

aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on), attend, heed, mind, fixate (on), obsess (over), refocus, headquarters, happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland, kernel, nub, pith, deep, thick, essence, quintessence, soul

Word Forms of Focus

Inflections: foci, focuses, focused, focussed, focusing, focussing

Derived words: focusless (adjective), focusable (adjective), focuser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Focus

New Latin, from Latin, hearth

First known use: 1664

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Focus

Words & Phrases Containing Focus

focus group, deep focus, in focus, out of focus, real focus, soft-focus, into focus

Frequently Asked Questions about Focus

What does "Focus" mean?

"Focus" means a center of activity, attraction, or attention. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a center of activity, attraction, or attention. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Focus"?

Other words for "Focus" include center, concentrate, fasten, rivet, train, axis, base and capital. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Focus" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Focus"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Focus". Common alternatives include center, concentrate, fasten, rivet, train, axis, base, capital, central and core.

How do you use "Focus" in a sentence?

Examples of "Focus" in a sentence: "try to focus your attention on the task at hand"; "in the 19th century Paris was the focus of the art world"; "a wildlife conservation organization that seems to have lost its focus".

Is "Focus" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Focus" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Focus" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Focus" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Focus"?

"Focus" is pronounced /ˈfō-kəs/ and divided into syllables as fo·cus.

What is the origin of the word "Focus"?

"Focus" comes from New Latin, from Latin, hearth. First known use: 1664.