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Glite Dictionary
to sharpen focus

to sharpen focus

4.0
To make your attention clearer and stronger
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : agudizar el enfoque
  • He sharpened focus during the meeting.

Examples

  • We need to sharpen focus on our main objectives to achieve better results.

  • You need to sharpen focus on your studies!

  • Meditation can help you sharpen focus during stressful periods.

  • The new manager encouraged staff to sharpen focus on customer satisfaction.

  • Daily meditation can help you sharpen focus and improve concentration in your studies.

  • To enhance your productivity at work, you should sharpen focus on your most important tasks each day.

  • Taking short breaks during study sessions can sharpen focus and prevent mental fatigue.

Synonyms

to focus
vsto sharpen focus
∞ 2.6

To direct attention or thoughts toward something specific

increase attention intensity and alertness rather than just directing it
to focus on
vsto sharpen focus
∞ 2.0

Give most attention and effort to one person or task

aim to increase clarity and alertness rather than only giving most attention
to concentrate
vsto sharpen focus
561 3.4

To give all your attention to one thing

seek greater clarity and alertness in attention rather than only directing it
to concentrate on
vsto sharpen focus
279 3.1

Give your full attention to one activity or subject

aim to increase clarity and alertness instead of only directing full attention
to sharpen
vsto sharpen focus
26 3.1

To make an idea, image, or argument clearer and more precise

aim mainly at increasing attention clarity and alertness rather than general precision
to refocus
vsto sharpen focus
23 3.9

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

aim to make attention clearer and more intense rather than just restoring it
to focalize
vsto sharpen focus
7.9

To bring things or attention together at one clear point

tighten attention to increase clarity and intensity rather than physical convergence

Antonyms

to distract
513 2.1

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

How Focused

to zero in
63 4.7
to sharpen focus
4.0
to concentrate
561 3.4
notice
217 1.2

Surface Forms

sharpen focus infinitive
sharpened focus past
sharpened focus past participle
sharpening focus present participle
sharpens focus third person singular

Morphology

sharpen + focus

The meaning 'to make attention clearer or more intense' is directly derivable from combining 'sharpen' (to make more acute or precise) with 'focus' (concentration of attention). The metaphorical use of 'sharpen' to mean 'make more precise' is common and follows a straightforward compositional pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer.

Etymology

The phrase sharpen focus comes from imagining a pencil or tool being made very sharp so it can draw a clear line. The word sharpen means 'make sharp' and focus is 'the clear point of attention', so the phrase means 'pay more attention'.