concentration
B2Neutral/Formal
Definition
Meaning
The action or power of focusing one's attention or mental effort on a single object or activity; the state of having parts gathered closely together in one place.
A close gathering of people or things; the relative amount of a particular substance contained within a solution or mixture; the process of increasing the strength of a substance by removing diluting components.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word straddles both psychological/mental focus and physical/chemical density. It can describe an internal cognitive state ('He lost concentration') or an external, measurable property ('a high concentration of salt').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, strong associations with academic study, scientific measurement, and focused mental activity.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
concentration on somethingconcentration of something (in something)require/need/take concentrationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “powers of concentration”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market dominance or focus, e.g., 'market concentration' or 'concentration on core competencies.'
Academic
Common in psychology (cognitive focus), chemistry (solution strength), and economics (market analysis).
Everyday
Most often used for mental focus during tasks like studying, driving, or reading.
Technical
In chemistry, a precise quantitative measure (e.g., 'molar concentration').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You must concentrate on your revision for the A-levels.
- The solution was concentrated by boiling off the water.
American English
- You need to concentrate on studying for the SATs.
- The juice is made from concentrated orange pulp.
adverb
British English
- He stared concentratedly at the chessboard for ten minutes.
American English
- She worked concentratedly on the manuscript all afternoon.
adjective
British English
- She gave him a concentrated look of disapproval.
- This is a highly concentrated detergent, so use less.
American English
- He listened with concentrated effort.
- Avoid contact with the concentrated acid solution.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children lost concentration after twenty minutes.
- The drink has a high concentration of sugar.
- Driving in heavy rain requires your full concentration.
- There is a concentration of tech companies in this city.
- Her powers of concentration are remarkable, even in a noisy office.
- The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising.
- The artist worked with such intense concentration that he was oblivious to the passage of time.
- The economic analysis revealed an alarming concentration of wealth in the top percentile.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONCERT where all the sound is focused in one hall. CONCENTRATION is focusing all your mental 'sound' on one thing.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION IS A RESOURCE (to expend, lose, or gather); FOCUS IS A CONTAINER (to be in deep concentration).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating Russian 'концентрация' for 'concentration camp' in historical contexts without the full phrase; it's a fixed term.
- The Russian word 'сосредоточение' is a closer match for the mental sense than 'концентрация' in some abstract contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'concentration' as a countable noun for mental focus in singular contexts (e.g., 'I need a good concentration' –> 'I need to concentrate' or 'I need good concentration').
- Confusing 'concentration' (process/state) with 'concentrate' (the verb or the noun for a substance).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical use of 'concentration'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily uncountable when referring to the mental faculty or action ('She has poor concentration'). It can be countable when referring to an instance or a specific gathering ('several concentrations of enemy troops').
They are often synonyms for mental attention. 'Concentration' often implies sustained, effortful exclusion of distractions, while 'focus' can be the central point of attention or a clearer, sharper state. 'Focus' is also more common as a verb in everyday speech ('Focus on your work').
Use 'on' for the object of mental focus ('concentration on details'). Use 'of' for the substance or thing that is gathered ('a concentration of minerals').
Yes, outside of the mental context. 'Concentration of power' can imply authoritarianism. 'Concentration camp' is a historically loaded term with profoundly negative connotations.
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