focus
a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity: The need to prevent a nuclear war became the focus of all diplomatic efforts.
close attention or concentration: Some of the warning signs indicating you should pull over: drifting between lanes, repeated yawning, tailgating, and trouble maintaining focus.
the ability to concentrate one’s attention or to sustain concentration:Mindfulness and meditation are often suggested to help manage stress, increase awareness of emotions, and improve focus.
Physics. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation meet after being refracted or reflected.
Optics.
the focal point of a lens, on which rays converge or from which they deviate.
the focal length of a lens; the distance from a focal point to a corresponding principal plane.
the clear and sharply defined condition of an image.
the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: in focus; out of focus.
Geometry. (of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve.
Geology. the point of origin of an earthquake.
Pathology. the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes.
to bring to a focus or into focus; cause to converge on a perceived point: to focus the lens of a camera.
to concentrate: to focus one's thoughts;to focus troop deployment in the east.
to be or become focused: My eyes have trouble focusing on distant objects.
to direct one's attention or efforts: Students must focus in class.
Origin of focus
1Other words for focus
Other words from focus
- fo·cus·a·ble, adjective
- fo·cus·er, noun
- mis·fo·cus, verb, mis·fo·cused, mis·fo·cus·ing or (especially British) mis·fo·cussed, mis·fo·cus·sing.
- mis·fo·cused, adjective
- mis·fo·cussed, adjective
- o·ver·fo·cus, verb (used with object), o·ver·fo·cused, o·ver·fo·cus·ing or (especially British) o·ver·fo·cussed, o·ver·fo·cus·sing.
- re·fo·cus, verb, re·fo·cused, re·fo·cus·ing or (especially British) re·fo·cussed, re·fo·cus·sing.
- self-fo·cused; especially British, self-fo·cussed, adjective
- self-fo·cus·ing; especially British, self-fo·cus·sing, adjective
- un·fo·cus·ing; especially British, un·fo·cus·sing, adjective
- well-fo·cused; especially British, well-fo·cussed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use focus in a sentence
In their past calls for attacks on Western targets, AQAP has focused on putting bombs on planes, not revenge attacks.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre | Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut many I spoke to felt that even when the police were making arrests, they were frequently focused on the wrong issues.
In an effort to gain early attention, he focused his attention on the Iowa precinct caucuses, which had never mattered much.
But Reconcile is from a slightly different arm of Houston hip-hop—more focused on spiritual triumph over the trap.
Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet | Stereo Williams | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Being women of the 60s—that was not focused on,” observes Ejogo.
From the bridge we got a fine view as our guns were being focused on and about the north-west coast.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton"There's something lying there," said Seth, whose eyes were suddenly focused on the ground, and then he dismounted quickly.
The Light That Lures | Percy BrebnerIn Knigsberg (p. 103) was formed the League of Virtue, which focused the new morality and patriotism of the masses.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane"Forget your feuds and listen to me," Peter Gross thundered in a voice of authority that focused instant attention upon him.
The Argus Pheasant | John Charles BeechamShe bent slowly downwards, all the force of her will focused in her eyes.
A German Pompadour | Marie Hay
British Dictionary definitions for focus
/ (ˈfəʊkəs) /
a point of convergence of light or other electromagnetic radiation, particles, sound waves, etc, or a point from which they appear to diverge
another name for focal point (def. 1), focal length
optics the state of an optical image when it is distinct and clearly defined or the state of an instrument producing this image: the picture is in focus; the telescope is out of focus
a point upon which attention, activity, etc, is directed or concentrated
geometry a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section, used when defining its eccentricity
the point beneath the earth's surface at which an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion originates: Compare epicentre
pathol the main site of an infection or a localized region of diseased tissue
to bring or come to a focus or into focus
(tr often foll by on) to fix attention (on); concentrate
Origin of focus
1Derived forms of focus
- focusable, adjective
- focuser, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for focus
[ fō′kəs ]
The degree of clarity with which an eye or optical instrument produces an image.
A central point or region, such as the point at which an earthquake starts.
Mathematics A fixed point or one of a pair of fixed points used in generating a curve such as an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola.
The region of a localized bodily infection or disease.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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