to focus

Examples

• All

• Just focus on getting a good shot.

  Fall (2022)

• We want to get rid of those and just focus in on these points.

• And then I could just focus on my career.

• Yeah man, I think people should focus on their three foot world.

  Jack Neel

• I can focus on mine, you can focus on yours.

  Babes (2024)

• Let the small things pass by and focus on what's important.

• Focus on what you can control.

  Return to Sender (2022)

• We're gonna focus on strength, we're gonna focus on endurance.

  Gran Turismo (2023)

• Researchers and service providers should focus on the diversity and needs of older immigrant populations.

  Academic text (2011)

• You need to focus on your studies if you want to succeed in school.

Synonyms

F

to focus on

vsto focus

∞ 2.0

Give most attention and effort to one person or task

is the general act of directing attention and making it clearer

P

to pay attention

vsto focus

∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

covers that careful attention and also deliberate mental or emotional adjustment

C

to concentrate

vsto focus

561 3.4

To give all your attention to one thing

is broader, covering both shifting attention and clarifying ideas or feelings

C

to concentrate on

vsto focus

279 3.1

Give your full attention to one activity or subject

includes that concentrated effort but also adjusting clarity of ideas or emotions

D

to direct

vsto focus

245 1.8

To point something like light or attention at a target

focuses more on adjusting attention and clarity rather than aiming objects

C

to center

vsto focus

• US

210 2.8

To focus most attention on one thing

is more about adjusting attention and clarity than arranging central position

S

to settle on

vsto focus

55 3.1

To fix your eyes or attention on one thing

can involve active directing rather than a passive settling of attention

F

to fixate

vsto focus

46 7.0

To think about someone or something all the time

allows normal directing and clarification without the compulsive intensity

Z

to zero in on

vsto focus

44 4.2

To give most attention to one person or thing

is similar but can also mean making ideas or feelings clearer

Z

to zoom in

vsto focus

• Texting

33 3.7

To look closely at one part to see small details

is broader and can apply to overall mental or emotional clarity

R

to refocus

vsto focus

23 3.9

Adjust something so it is clear or pay attention to something again

is the general initial act of directing or making attention clearer

P

to put one's mind to it

vsto focus

14 3.5

To focus all your attention and effort on achieving something

is more general, not always tied to effortful achievement

F

to focalize

vsto focus

7.9

To bring things or attention together at one clear point

is the basic act of directing attention without technical convergence sense

C

to concenter

vsto focus

• Archaic

9.3

To bring attention, ideas, or efforts together on one thing

focuses more on directing attention and clarifying ideas rather than physical convergence

F

to foveate

vsto focus

• Specialized

9.9

To focus the eyes or a camera on a point so you see it very clearly

is broader, covering mental or emotional directing beyond visual aiming

Antonyms

D

to distract

513 2.1

To make someone stop paying attention to what they are doing or thinking about

Idioms

I

in focus

18 3.3

Clear and easy to see or understand when people pay attention to it

Phrasal Verbs

F

to focus on

∞ 2.0

Give most attention and effort to one person or task

S

to shift focus

14 3.8

Change what you pay attention to

F

to focus on

• Specialized

6 3.3

Make a field or button ready to receive keyboard input

S

to sharpen focus

4.0

To make your attention clearer and stronger

Compounds

S

steely-eyed focus

7.0

Strong, steady attention that shows determination

How Focused

to fixate

46 7.0

to focus

∞ 2.6

to concentrate

561 3.4

to consider

∞ 1.1

to notice

∞ 1.0

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology