centre
centre — verb
1. to place something so that it is at an equal distance from the sides or edges of
to place something so that it is at an equal distance from the sides or edges of a space
Walid centred the painting on the living room wall before hanging it.
centre + object + on + surface
The photographer centred the bride and groom in the middle of the frame.
passive: be centred in [location]
Mizuki centred the text on the page before sending the file to the printer.
The small table was centred beneath the window in the hallway.
- centre a picture
- centre text
- centred on the page
- centred in the frame
- centred beneath [object]
- perfectly centred
- offset
to place away from the centre, often deliberately
Grammar Patterns
centre + noun + prepositional phrase (in/on/at)
be centred + in/on/at + location
Usage Note
Often used in its passive form ('be centred') in descriptions of design, photography, and furniture arrangement. The preposition depends on the location: 'in' for an enclosed area, 'on' for a surface, 'at' for a point or line.
Common Mistakes
2. in association football, to kick or pass the ball from near one side of the fiel
in association football, to kick or pass the ball from near one side of the field toward the area close to the opponent's goal
Ravindra centred the ball from the right wing to the striker near the goal.
centre + the ball + from + side + to + player
The midfielder centred to her teammate, who volleyed it into the net.
Eshe centred the ball across the penalty area, but the goalkeeper caught it.
centre + the ball + across + area
Andrei centred from the left flank and the defender cleared the ball away.
- centre the ball
- centre from the wing
- centre to the striker
- centre across the box
- centre from the flank
- cross
the more common term in modern football commentary; same meaning
Grammar Patterns
centre + the ball + to + player
centre + to + player
centre + the ball + across/across + area
Usage Note
Used transitively with 'the ball' as object, or intransitively with just a 'to' phrase. Common in football match commentary and post-game reports. The American English equivalent is 'cross'.
Common Mistakes
centre — noun
1. the position in an object or space that is equally far from all of its outer edg
the position in an object or space that is equally far from all of its outer edges, sides, or ends
Wei drew a small red circle right in the centre of the whiteboard.
in the centre of + noun phrase
Felix placed the crystal vase at the centre of the long dining table.
Diya's house is in the centre of town, just a short walk from the market.
The chocolate truffle has a soft caramel centre inside a dark chocolate shell.
- in the centre of
- at the centre of
- dead centre
- centre point
Grammar Patterns
the centre of something
in/at the centre
Usage Note
Often used with a definite article and 'of' to specify which thing the middle belongs to.
Common Mistakes
2. a person, event, or topic that attracts the greatest interest and attention from
a person, event, or topic that attracts the greatest interest and attention from a group of people at a particular time
At the wedding reception, Rachel was the centre of attention in her flowing gold dress.
the centre of attention
The trial of the former mayor became the centre of national media interest for months.
For Ingrid, her grandchildren have always been the centre of her world.
Sivan's latest exhibition quickly became the centre of the city's art scene.
- centre of attention
- centre of interest
- centre of the debate
- sideline
a position of less importance or involvement
Grammar Patterns
the centre of something (attention, interest, debate)
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases 'centre of attention', 'centre of interest', and 'centre of the universe/world'. Subject is typically a person, event, place, or topic that others look toward.
3. the position of being a crucial or deeply involved part of a situation, event, o
the position of being a crucial or deeply involved part of a situation, event, or argument — for example, a person at the centre of a political crisis, or an issue at the centre of a public debate
The local school found itself at the centre of a heated argument about budget cuts.
at the centre of + (debate/crisis/controversy/argument)
Christopher was at the centre of every decision the team made about the project.
At the centre of the novel is a young woman searching for her lost brother in wartime.
The scientists' research on vaccines is at the centre of global efforts to stop the disease.
- at the centre of
- at the centre of the debate
- at the centre of the controversy
- periphery
the outer edge of involvement; a less important position
Grammar Patterns
at the centre of something (a situation, event, controversy)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes being deeply involved or essential (crucial role), while sense 2 describes being the object of others' attention. 'At the centre of a crisis' means you are key to it; 'the centre of attention' means everyone is watching you.
Common Mistakes
4. a building, room, or area that provides a particular type of service, activity,
a building, room, or area that provides a particular type of service, activity, or facility for the public
The community centre runs free yoga classes every Thursday evening.
community centre / shopping centre / sports centre / health centre
A new shopping centre with fifty shops and a cinema opened last weekend.
Lakan goes to the sports centre twice a week to use the swimming pool.
Patients can see a doctor at the local health centre without making an appointment.
- community centre
- shopping centre
- sports centre
- health centre
- conference centre
- fitness centre
Grammar Patterns
centre + for + noun
shopping centre
community centre
health centre
Usage Note
The specific purpose is usually shown by a word before 'centre', such as 'community centre', 'shopping centre', 'health centre', 'conference centre', or 'fitness centre'. In American English this is spelled 'center'.
Common Mistakes
5. a player who takes a central position on the pitch or court in sports like baske
a player who takes a central position on the pitch or court in sports like basketball and rugby, or the role that such a player fills on the team
Femi plays centre for the university basketball team and scores most of their points.
play centre
As a rugby centre, you need to be fast and skilled at passing the ball.
The coach moved Esteban from wing to centre at the start of the season.
The team captain plays centre and directs the attacking plays from midfield.
- play centre
- centre position
- starting centre
- midfielder
used in football (soccer) and field hockey for a similar middle-area position
Grammar Patterns
play centre
centre + for + team
Usage Note
The exact role of a 'centre' varies by sport. In basketball the centre is usually the tallest player and plays near the basket; in rugby the centres form part of the back line and are key in attack and defence.
6. in American football, the player on the offensive line who takes a central posit
in American football, the player on the offensive line who takes a central position and starts each play by sending the ball backwards to the quarterback
Mauricio has been the team's starting centre for three seasons and rarely makes a bad snap.
starting centre
The centre snapped the ball cleanly to the quarterback, who threw it down the field.
Darius was named the best college centre in the country by several sports magazines.
The rookie centre practised snapping the ball for hours every day.
- starting centre
- centre position
- snap the ball
Grammar Patterns
starting centre
centre + snaps + ball
Usage Note
Only used in the context of American or Canadian football. In rugby, the middle-line position is also called 'centre' (sense 5), but the American football centre has a very different role — snapping the ball rather than receiving it.
Common Mistakes
7. In baseball, the area of the outfield that lies directly behind the pitcher's mo
In baseball, the area of the outfield that lies directly behind the pitcher's mound, between left field and right field.
The batter hit a high fly ball to centre field, and Eitan caught it easily.
collocation: hit / catch in centre field
Baraka sprinted across centre field to chase down the ball before it hit the ground.
The ball landed deep in centre field, far beyond the reach of the infielders.
collocation: deep in centre field
Yuna made an impressive running catch in centre field, stopping the other team from scoring.
- centre field
- in centre field
- to centre field
- deep in centre field
- center field
US spelling of the same term
- left field
the outfield area to the batter's right
- right field
the outfield area to the batter's left
Usage Note
Only used in baseball. The corresponding player position is centre fielder.
Common Mistakes
8. In team ball sports played on a pitch or a rink, the central marked spot where p
In team ball sports played on a pitch or a rink, the central marked spot where play begins or restarts after a goal is scored.
The referee put the ball on the centre spot to start the match.
collocation: on the centre spot
Noor passed the ball from the centre circle to a teammate on the right wing.
collocation: from the centre circle
After the goal, both teams returned to the centre of the pitch for the restart.
In ice hockey, every period begins with a face-off at the centre of the rink.
- centre spot
- centre circle
- at the centre circle
- from the centre
- centre circle
the circular marking around the centre spot, used especially in football
- midfield
the general middle area of the pitch, not the specific restart spot
Usage Note
Often called the centre circle in football because of the painted circle around the centre spot. In ice hockey, the equivalent is the centre-ice face-off spot.
9. A moderate political position or group that avoids extreme left-wing or right-wi
A moderate political position or group that avoids extreme left-wing or right-wing views, often aimed at appealing to the widest range of voters.
The party aims to win votes from the centre with moderate tax and healthcare policies.
collocation: win votes from the centre
Lakan's views place him in the centre of the party, not on the far left.
collocation: in the centre of [party]
Kasia argued that only a candidate who appeals to the centre can win an election.
The centre of British politics has shifted towards more moderate economic policies in recent years.
Isabela's views are in the centre — she supports free markets and welfare programmes.
- the political centre
- in the centre
- appeal to the centre
- the centre of the party
- the centre ground
- centrists
refers to the people who hold moderate views
- the middle ground
a less formal way to describe moderate political space
- moderates
emphasises the rejection of extreme positions
- the far left
the extreme end of left-wing politics
- the far right
the extreme end of right-wing politics
Usage Note
Often takes the definite article: the centre. Frequently paired with political spectrum terms such as 'left' and 'right' for contrast.
Common Mistakes
front and centre
idiomIn the most noticeable or important position.
The new product was placed front and centre at the trade show.
Why is this issue suddenly front and centre in the debate?
Happening in many places or in all directions.
The company is opening new stores left, right and centre.
Maya was making friends left, right and centre at the conference.
Word family
- centraladjectiveB1
- centralise (UK) / centralize (US)verbC1
- centralisation (UK) / centralization (US)nounC1
- centristnounC1
- centristadjectiveC1
- centred (UK) / centered (US)adjectiveB2
- centreless (UK) / centerless (US)adjectiveC2
- centrepiece (UK) / centerpiece (US)nounC1
- centre-stageadverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words refer to a central position, but they differ in usage. 'Middle' is the most common everyday term and works for physical spaces ('the middle of the room'), time ('the middle of the night'), and abstract contexts. 'Centre' is slightly more formal and precise, especially for exact geometric positions or institutional locations ('town centre'). 'Midpoint' is strictly mathematical or technical, used when a precise halfway measurement matters. 'Heart' is more emotional or metaphorical ('the heart of the city'), suggesting vitality rather than exactness. 'Core' implies the innermost, essential part of something abstract ('the core of the argument'). 'Hub' emphasises activity and connection — a busy point where things converge ('a transport hub'). Use 'centre' when you need a neutral, precise term; 'heart' when you want emotional warmth; 'core' for the essential substance; 'hub' for a dynamic meeting point.
Common collocations
Nouns
- centre of [something]
- town centre
- city centre
- centre of gravity
- centre of population
Adverbs
- centrally
- directly (in the centre)
- right (in the centre)
- dead centre
- exactly (at the centre)
Phrases
- at the centre of
- in the centre of
- centre of attention
- centre of the universe
- to the centre
- from the centre
- towards the centre
Prepositions
- at (the centre)
- in (the centre)
- towards (the centre)
- around (the centre)
- from (the centre)
- near (the centre)
- through (the centre)
Etymology
The English word 'centre' comes via Old French 'centre' from Latin 'centrum', which in turn was borrowed from Greek 'kentron' (κέντρον). The original Greek meaning was 'sharp point, goad, or prick' — referring to the stationary point of a compass used to draw a circle. By the 14th century, English had adopted it with the geometric meaning of the middle point of a circle. Over time the sense broadened to any middle point, then to institutions or places around which activity gathers, and finally to political moderation.