focus
noun
a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity.
had been focusing
-
past perfect progressiveof focus.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
As a result, the company had been focusing on improving profits by keeping down costs—including wages—while sales stagnated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
A hit came back identifying one of those make and models belonging to Heuermann, who lived in a neighborhood police had been focusing on because of cellphone location data and call records, authorities said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2023
Bell Laboratories had been focusing on developing a car-based phone instead, he says.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2023
While Mr. Sedlar has been promoting his movie, the government had been focusing on getting the country ready to adopt the euro and to enter the borderless Schengen zone, on Jan. 1.
From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2023
Harry had been focusing so hard on learning the Summoning Charm that evening that some of his blind panic had left him.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
