focus

focus — noun

1. the person, thing, or topic that receives the most attention in a particular act

1.nounB1
Definition

the person, thing, or topic that receives the most attention in a particular activity, discussion, or situation

Example

The focus of the meeting was the new plan for the school library.

the focus of [something] — identifying the main topic

Shanti's report brought the problem of plastic waste into focus for the whole community.

bring [something] into focus — making something clearer or more noticeable

Common collocations
  • main focus
  • central focus
  • focus of attention
  • focus of the debate
  • shift the focus
  • bring into focus
Synonyms
  • centre

    more concrete, less abstract — the centre of a room vs the focus of a debate

  • heart

    more emotional or metaphorical — the heart of the matter

  • core

    emphasises the essential part, not just what's noticed

Antonyms
  • periphery

    the outer edge, opposite of the central focus

Grammar Patterns

the focus of [something]

become/bring into focus

Usage Note

Often appears in the fixed phrase 'the focus of something' to identify the central element in a discussion, event, or activity.

Common Mistakes

The focus of my studying is English.
The main focus of my studies is English.
'focus' is usually singular in this sense and sounds more natural with 'main'.

2. the ability to direct your mental effort towards a particular task, thought, or

2.nounB1
Definition

the ability to direct your mental effort towards a particular task, thought, or activity without being distracted

Example

The noise from the street made it hard for Kenji to keep his focus on his homework.

keep/lose your focus — maintaining or losing concentration

Adaeze's focus never wavered during the three-hour final exam.

Common collocations
  • keep your focus
  • lose your focus
  • lack of focus
  • maintain focus
  • intense focus
Synonyms
  • concentration

    nearly interchangeable; 'concentration' slightly more formal

  • attention

    broader — can be brief; 'focus' implies sustained effort

  • attentiveness

    more formal and less common in everyday speech

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

keep/lose your focus

focus on [something]

Usage Note

Common with verbs like 'keep', 'lose', 'lack', 'bring back', and 'shift'. Unlike 'attention', 'focus' emphasises sustained, directed mental energy rather than momentary notice.

Common Mistakes

I need more focus on my work.
I need to stay focused on my work.
as a noun, 'focus' is uncountable and often needs a possessive ('my focus', 'the team's focus').

3. in physics, the single location where waves such as light, sound, or heat energy

3.nounB2
Definition

in physics, the single location where waves such as light, sound, or heat energy converge after being directed by a lens or a curved surface

Example

A convex lens brings parallel light rays together at a single point called the focus.

scientific description of the focus point

The focus of a magnifying glass is where the sun's rays meet and can start a fire.

Common collocations
  • at the focus
  • bring into focus
  • beyond the focus
  • sharp focus
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

bring [something] into focus

at the focus of

Usage Note

Mostly used in physics and optics. In everyday language, the figurative senses (MAIN POINT or ATTENTION) are far more common.

Common Mistakes

The focus of the lens is broken.
The lens is out of focus.
'focus' as a point isn't a physical part that breaks; it's a location where rays meet.

4. the state of being clear and sharp in a photograph, video, or image — or the opp

4.nounB2
Definition

the state of being clear and sharp in a photograph, video, or image — or the opposite when the image appears blurry

Example

The background is slightly out of focus, but the bride's face is perfectly clear.

in focus / out of focus — describing image clarity

Gabriel turned the ring on the camera lens to adjust the focus before taking the shot.

Common collocations
  • in focus
  • out of focus
  • adjust the focus
  • soft focus
  • sharp focus
Synonyms
  • sharpness

    emphasises the crispness of edges in an image

  • clarity

    broader term for overall visual quality

Antonyms
  • blur

    the lack of sharpness when focus is wrong

Grammar Patterns

in focus / out of focus

adjust the focus

Usage Note

Typically used in 'in focus' (clear) and 'out of focus' (blurry). The phrase 'soft focus' describes a deliberately gentle, less sharp image.

Common Mistakes

The photo is out of focus because the battery died.
The photo is out of focus because the camera was not adjusted properly.
'out of focus' is about lens adjustment, not power.

focus — verb

Word family

  • focused
    adjectiveB1
  • focusing
    nounB2
  • unfocused
    adjectiveB2
  • refocus
    verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/4

All four words describe directing attention, but they differ in tone and precision. 'Focus' (CEFR B1) is the most versatile and neutral — you can focus on work, a conversation, or a goal. 'Concentrate' (B1) implies a more active, effortful mental process; you concentrate on solving a maths problem, while you might focus on listening to a friend. 'Zero in on' (B2, informal) suggests narrowing your attention from a broad area to a specific target, like a detective zeroing in on a suspect. 'Home in on' (C1) is similar but slightly more technical, often used for missiles or animals moving towards a target. In everyday speech, 'focus' and 'concentrate' are the safest choices. Example: 'The teacher told the class to focus on the board', but 'Alicia concentrated hard on the difficult calculation.'

concentrate ↗focus ↗zero in onhome in on ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in focus
  • out of focus
  • bring into focus
  • come into focus
  • shift the focus
  • focus of attention

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'focus' entered English in the 1600s directly from Latin, where it originally meant 'hearth' or 'fireplace' — the central fire around which a Roman family gathered. In the 17th century, scientists such as Johannes Kepler borrowed the word to describe the point where light rays meet, because a lens could concentrate sunlight enough to start a fire, just like a hearth. The mathematical and physics meanings were well established by the 1700s. The broader sense of 'centre of activity or attention' developed in the 1800s, and the verb meaning 'to concentrate one's mental effort' became common in the early 1900s, particularly in psychology and education.