refocus
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring (a lens, beam of light, one's gaze, etc.) into focus again or on a new point.
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to concentrate (thought, efforts, or the like) again or on a new task, subject, or target.
verb (used without object)
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of a lens or beam of light, to come into focus again or on a new point.
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to concentrate one's thought, efforts, etc., again or on a new task or subject.
Explanation
The verb refocus means to readjust an optical device. If you are looking at the planets with a telescope, you may have to refocus the telescope to make everything come in clearly. The verb refocus can also mean to change priorities and concentrate on something different from before. When football season finally ends, maybe you will have the opportunity to refocus and concentrate on your studies. Refocus also means to focus anew. If your book club book is boring, you might have to refocus and give it another chance.
Vocabulary lists containing refocus
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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George
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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.
I know that’s a pretty heavy story to wade through, so my colleagues have put together a few lighter reads to help you refocus:
From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2026
He wants the UK government to pause its asylum dispersal scheme to allow the city "to be able to refocus itself".
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Campbell’s on Thursday said that it has tried to refocus Goldfish on families with children over the past year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Ruesselsheim teams would in turn refocus on their core competencies -- vehicle parts such as chassis, seats, lighting, steering and driver-assistance systems.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
It shouldn’t have surprised me that Liam threw himself back into watch duty, but it took a generous amount of coaxing from the others for his mind to refocus on the camps.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
