center

center — noun

1. the exact middle part of a space, object, or area, equally far from all sides or

1.nounA2
Definition

the exact middle part of a space, object, or area, equally far from all sides or edges.

Example

A small wooden table stood at the center of the room.

Draw a dot in the center of the circle on your paper.

preposition: in the center of [noun phrase]

Common collocations
  • at the center of
  • in the center of
  • dead center
  • center point
Synonyms
  • middle

    more common in everyday speech; 'center' sounds slightly more precise or formal

  • midpoint

    strictly mathematical or geometric; less common in daily conversation

  • core

    suggests the innermost part rather than a geometric middle

Antonyms
  • edge

    the outer boundary or limit

  • side

    a position away from the center

2. the busiest section in a town, containing most of its shops, restaurants, office

2.nounA2
Definition

the busiest section in a town, containing most of its shops, restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues.

Example

The new bookstore opened in the center of town last week.

preposition: in the center of town

Leila took the bus to the city center to meet her friends for lunch.

Common collocations
  • city center
  • town center
  • shopping center
  • center of town
Synonyms
  • downtown

    more common in American English; can be used as a noun or adjective

  • city center

    specifically the central business district of a larger city

Usage Note

In British English the spelling 'centre' is used. 'City center' and 'town center' are common compound nouns.

Common Mistakes

I went to center city to shop.
I went to the city center to shop.
'city center' is the standard noun phrase; 'center city' is not used in this way.

3. a building or set of rooms designed for a specific purpose, service, or type of

3.nounB1
Definition

a building or set of rooms designed for a specific purpose, service, or type of activity.

Example

The community center offers free yoga classes on Tuesday evenings.

noun + noun: community center, shopping center, etc.

Priya works at a daycare center near the train station.

Common collocations
  • community center
  • shopping center
  • sports center
  • daycare center
  • call center
  • data center
Synonyms
  • facility

    more formal; can refer to any building designed for a function

  • hub

    suggests a busy, central place where activities converge

Usage Note

Often combined with another noun that describes the purpose: community center, shopping center, medical center, data center.

4. the person, thing, or issue that draws the most interest, discussion, or activit

4.nounB1
Definition

the person, thing, or issue that draws the most interest, discussion, or activity in a situation.

Example

The debate about school funding became the center of public attention.

collocation: center of attention / center of debate

A young singer was the center of the festival's opening ceremony.

Common collocations
  • center of attention
  • center of debate
  • at the center of
  • center of activity
Synonyms
  • focus

    directly interchangeable in most contexts; 'focus' may sound slightly more technical

  • heart

    more emotional or metaphorical, as in 'the heart of the matter'

  • hub

    suggests activity and movement around the central point

Antonyms
  • sideline

    a position of less importance or attention

Usage Note

Commonly used in phrases like 'center of attention,' 'center of debate,' and 'at the center of [something].' Does not refer to a physical location.

Common Mistakes

She was the center of my heart.
She was the center of my attention.
'center of heart' is not idiomatic; use 'center of attention' or 'focus of my affection.'

5. a moderate political viewpoint that falls between left-wing and right-wing opini

5.nounB2
Definition

a moderate political viewpoint that falls between left-wing and right-wing opinions, or the group of people who hold such views.

Example

The candidate moved toward the center to attract undecided voters.

political domain: move toward the center

In this election, both parties are competing for voters in the center.

Common collocations
  • the political center
  • center-left
  • center-right
  • center of the spectrum
  • move toward the center
Synonyms
Antonyms

Usage Note

Typically used with the definite article: 'the center.' The adjective form is 'centrist' and the noun for a person is 'centrist.'

6. the middle-position player on a sports team — for instance, the basketball playe

6.nounB2
Definition

the middle-position player on a sports team — for instance, the basketball player positioned nearest the hoop, the hockey player who starts at center-ice face-offs, or the football lineman who initiates the down by hiking the ball.

Example

The team's center scored twenty points in last night's game.

Ravi plays center on the basketball team because he is the tallest.

sports role: play(s) center

Common collocations
  • play center
  • team center
  • basketball center
  • hockey center
Synonyms

Usage Note

The specific responsibilities of the center vary greatly by sport. In basketball the center plays near the basket; in hockey the center takes face-offs; in American football the center snaps the ball.

7. the area of a baseball outfield straight ahead of home plate, between left field

7.nounB2
Definition

the area of a baseball outfield straight ahead of home plate, between left field and right field, or the player who defends that area.

Example

The batter hit a high fly ball to deep center field.

compound: center field

Diego plays center field for his college baseball team.

Common collocations
  • center field
  • center fielder
  • deep center
  • center field wall
Synonyms

Usage Note

Often used in the compound noun 'center field' (the area) or 'center fielder' (the player). Distinct from the basketball/hockey 'center' position.

Idioms

front and center

idiom

in the most noticeable, important, or prominent position.

The issue of climate change was front and center at the global summit.

The bride's family sat front and center during the wedding ceremony.

left, right, and center

idiom

in all directions; everywhere; happening in a very widespread or frequent way.

The company has been hiring new staff left, right, and center this year.

Rumors were flying left, right, and center after the announcement.

center stage

idiom

the position of greatest importance or attention in a situation.

The young activist took center stage at the education conference.

After years of work, her art finally took center stage at the gallery.

left, right and center

idiom

Happening in many places or in every direction.

Maya found her lost earrings left, right and center in the garden.

Did Diego see the new posters left, right and center at the mall?

center — verb

Word family

  • central
    adjectiveA2
  • centrist
    nounB2
  • centrist
    adjectiveB2
  • centralize
    verbB2
  • centralization
    nounC1
  • decentralize
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a central position, but they differ in context and connotation. 'Center' is the most precise term for a geometric midpoint — you would talk about the center of a circle or the center of a room. 'Middle' is more general and informal; it can refer to a point in time ('in the middle of the night') or a position in a sequence, which 'center' cannot. 'Core' suggests the innermost, essential part of something — the core of an apple, or the core of an argument — and carries a sense of substance or essence. 'Heart' is metaphorical and emotional: the heart of a city suggests its liveliest, most important area, while the heart of a problem implies its deepest cause. Used as nouns, 'center' and 'middle' are the most interchangeable in physical space, but 'core' and 'heart' lean toward abstract or figurative meanings.

center ↗middle ↗core ↗heart ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • center of attention
  • center of the city
  • center of the debate
  • center of the universe

Prepositions

  • in the center of
  • at the center of
  • toward the center
  • near the center

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

'Center' entered English from Old French 'centre,' which came from Latin 'centrum' meaning 'the middle point of a circle.' The Latin word itself was borrowed from Greek 'kentron' (κέντρον), which originally meant 'a sharp point, a goad' — referring to the stationary point of a compass used to draw circles. The geometric sense has been in English since the 1300s, while the figurative sense (center of attention) appeared in the 1600s. The verb form developed around the 1600s, initially meaning 'to place at the center.' The political sense emerged in the 1800s with the rise of modern parliamentary systems.