concentrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring or draw to a common center or point of union; converge; direct toward one point; focus.
to concentrate one's attention on a problem; to concentrate the rays of the sun with a lens.
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to put or bring into a single place, group, etc..
The nation's wealth had been concentrated in a few families.
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to intensify; make denser, stronger, or purer, especially by the removal or reduction of liquid.
to concentrate fruit juice; to concentrate a sauce by boiling it down.
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Mining. to separate (metal or ore) from rock, sand, etc., so as to improve the quality of the valuable portion.
verb (used without object)
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to bring all efforts, faculties, activities, etc., to bear on one thing or activity (often followed by on orupon ).
to concentrate on solving a problem.
- Antonyms:
- diverge
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to come to or toward a common center; converge; collect.
The population concentrated in one part of the city.
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to become more intense, stronger, or purer.
noun
verb
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to come or cause to come to a single purpose or aim
to concentrate one's hopes on winning
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to make or become denser or purer by the removal of certain elements, esp the solvent of a solution
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(tr) to remove rock or sand from (an ore) to make it purer
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to bring one's faculties to bear (on); think intensely (about)
noun
Related Words
See contract.
Other Word Forms
- concentrative adjective
- concentrativeness noun
- concentrator noun
- nonconcentrative adjective
- nonconcentrativeness noun
- overconcentrate verb
- preconcentrate noun
- reconcentrate verb
- unconcentrative adjective
Etymology
Origin of concentrate
First recorded in 1630–40; from French concentr(er) or Italian concentr(are) ( con-, center ) + -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the same time, M proteins can also cause the blood to thicken and concentrate in urine, both of which can cause renal problems.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
“Unity is shedding the lower-growth, lower-margin legacy pieces from the ironSource acquisition to concentrate resources on Vector and the core engine,” the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
"According to workers at the mines, some 30-tonne trucks that carry lithium concentrate exceed their maximum loads by 15 more tonnes," he said.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
"So I think we should concentrate on tomorrow's match, which is the most important thing for both teams."
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
Pierce, a Northerner, believed that the Compromise of 1850 had solved the slavery issue, declaring, “We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis …” He wanted Americans to concentrate on prosperity and peace.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
