focus
B2Formal, Informal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The central point of attention, activity, or interest; to direct attention or effort toward something specific.
1. The point where rays of light, sound, or other energy converge, or from which they appear to diverge (physics/optics). 2. A state of clear visual definition (e.g., an image being in focus). 3. The primary or central locus of an activity, problem, or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun and verb. The verb can be used transitively ('focus the camera') or intransitively ('focus on your work'). The plural is 'focuses' or 'foci' (the latter is more common in scientific/technical contexts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. The spelling of the verb inflections: BrE prefers 'focuses', 'focused', 'focusing'; AmE also commonly uses 'focuses', 'focused', 'focusing' but 'focusses', 'focussed', 'focussing' are older variants now less common.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
focus on [noun/gerund]focus [object] on [noun/gerund]focus [object] (e.g., a lens)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come into focus”
- “be in/out of focus”
- “focus your mind”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Our strategic focus this quarter is customer retention.
Academic
The study's focus was the long-term effects of early childhood intervention.
Everyday
Just focus on driving, please—the road is icy.
Technical
Adjust the microscope's focus until the cells are clearly defined.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team needs to focus on quality control.
- Could you focus the binoculars for me?
- He's focusing his efforts on the charity appeal.
American English
- Let's focus on getting this done today.
- She focused the camera on the bird's nest.
- The report focuses on economic trends.
adverb
British English
- He listened focusedly to the instructions. (rare)
- She worked focusedly on the puzzle. (rare)
American English
- He worked focusedly for hours. (rare)
- She spoke focusedly about the plan. (rare)
adjective
British English
- This is a focus group for product testing.
- She has a very focus-driven approach.
American English
- He attended a focus session before the launch.
- It was a focus-oriented strategy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please focus on the teacher.
- The photo is not in focus.
- My focus is my family.
- The company's focus is changing.
- You need to focus your mind on the exam.
- The main focus of the lesson is grammar.
- Public focus has shifted to climate change.
- The researcher focussed the microscope on the sample.
- We must avoid losing our strategic focus.
- The debate brought the ethical implications into sharp focus.
- His critique focussed overwhelmingly on methodological flaws.
- The earthquake's epicentre was the focus of all relief efforts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a camera's FOCUS ring. To get a clear picture, you must FOCUS On the Central point, Undistracted, and Sharp.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION IS A BEAM OF LIGHT (e.g., 'focus your attention', 'shine a light on the issue', 'laser-focused').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'focus' as a direct translation for 'фокус' meaning a magic trick or stunt (use 'trick' or 'stunt').
- Do not confuse with 'focus' as a verb meaning 'to trick' or 'deceive'.
- The Russian 'акцент' often corresponds to 'emphasis' rather than 'focus'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I focused to finish the work.' Correct: 'I focused on finishing the work.'
- Incorrect: 'The focuses of the meeting are...' (awkward). Better: 'The main points of the meeting are...' or 'The meeting focuses on...'
- Incorrect preposition: 'focus in' (usually wrong). Correct: 'focus on'.
Practice
Quiz
In optics, what is the 'focus'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct, but 'focused' (single 's') is more common in modern English, especially in American English. 'Focussed' is an older variant still found, particularly in British English.
The standard plural is 'focuses'. In scientific, mathematical, or technical contexts, the Latin plural 'foci' (/ˈfəʊ.saɪ/ or /ˈfoʊ.saɪ/) is also used.
Not traditionally, but it is commonly used in compounds like 'focus group' or informally as a descriptor (e.g., 'She's very focus'). The adjective form is technically 'focused' (e.g., a focused individual).
They are largely synonymous as verbs. 'Focus' often implies directing attention to a specific point or task, often with visual metaphors. 'Concentrate' can imply intensifying effort or density within a defined area. In many contexts, they are interchangeable.
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