focus

noun

UK /ˈfəʊkəs/

Word Forms

singular	focus
plural	focuses or foci

1
singular the thing that people are concentrating on or paying particular attention to
the main/primary/major focus:
The main focus of the discussion was the way in which women are portrayed in advertising.
focus of:
At this point, the focus of the war moved to the Eastern Front.
focus for:
We have chosen six communities as the focus for our study.
focus of attention:
The teaching of basic mathematics has been a particular focus of our attention.
focus of concern:
The oil crisis became the focus of Western concern in the early 1970s.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of discussions
contention
focus
item
2
singular/uncountable particular attention paid to something
focus on:
I’d like to see more focus on economic policy.
strong/sharp focus:
The school puts a strong focus on academic achievement.
greater focus:
The report calls for greater focus on the needs of the poor.
shift/change/move the focus:
They are trying to shift the focus more towards domestic policy.
bring/throw something into focus (=make people pay particular attention to it):
The issue of pedestrian safety has been brought sharply into focus this week.
Synonyms and related words
Careful thought
thought
consideration
assessment
3
singular/uncountable the act of concentrating on a particular aim and not wasting time or energy on other things
All the lessons have a very clear focus.
I think this marketing campaign has lost its focus.
lack focus:
A lot of young adults seem to lack focus in their lives.
Synonyms and related words
Careful thought
thought
consideration
assessment
4
uncountable the state of being able to be seen clearly
in focus (=able to be seen clearly):
Some of the photographs aren’t quite in focus.
come into focus (=start to be seen clearly):
Dad’s face gradually came into focus in the viewfinder.
out of focus (=not able to be seen clearly):
Some of the shots seemed to be out of focus.
Synonyms and related words
Clear to the senses
obvious
apparent
show up
1. 4a
  countable/uncountable the part of a camera, telescope, microscope etc that you turn until you can see something clearly
  Synonyms and related words
  Cameras and photographic equipment
  analogue camera
  aperture
  body camera
5
plural foci
countable physicsa focal point
Synonyms and related words
Terms in Physics
centre of gravity
density
focal length

focus

noun

US /ˈfoʊkəs/

Word Forms

singular	focus
plural	focuses or foci

1
singular the thing that people are concentrating on or paying particular attention to
We seem to agree on which areas need special focus.
focus of:
At this point, the focus of the war moved to the Eastern Front.
The main focus of the discussion was the way in which women are portrayed in advertising.
focus for:
We have chosen six communities as the focus for our study.
focus of attention:
The teaching of basic mathematics has been a particular focus of our attention.
focus of concern:
The oil crisis became the focus of Western concern in the early 1970s.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of discussions
contention
focus
item
2
singular/uncountable particular attention paid to something
focus on:
I’d like to see more focus on economic policy.
strong/sharp focus:
The school puts a strong focus on academic achievement.
greater focus:
The report calls for greater focus on the needs of the poor.
shift/change/move the focus:
They are trying to shift the focus more toward domestic policy.
bring/throw something into focus (=make people pay particular attention to it):
The issue of pedestrian safety has been brought sharply into focus this week.
Synonyms and related words
Careful thought
thought
consideration
assessment
3
singular/uncountable the act of concentrating on a particular goal and not wasting time or energy on other things
Each course unit has a very clear focus.
I think this marketing campaign has lost its focus.
lack focus:
A lot of young adults seem to lack focus in their lives.
Synonyms and related words
Careful thought
thought
consideration
assessment
4
uncountable the state of being able to be seen clearly
in focus (=able to be seen clearly):
Some of the photographs aren’t quite in focus.
come into focus (=start to be seen clearly):
Dad’s face gradually came into focus in the viewfinder.
out of focus (=not able to be seen clearly):
Some of the shots seemed to be out of focus.
Synonyms and related words
Clear to the senses
pin-sharp
obvious
apparent
1. 4a
  countable/uncountable the part of a camera, telescope, microscope, etc. that you turn until you can see something clearly
  Synonyms and related words
  Cameras and photographic equipment
  analogue camera
  aperture
  ASA
5
plural foci
countable physicsa focal point
Synonyms and related words
Terms in Physics
density
focal length
focal point

focus

verb intransitive/transitive

UK /ˈfəʊkəs/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	focus
he/she/it	focusses or focuses
present participle	focusing or focussing
past tense	focused or focussed
past participle	focused or focussed

1
to concentrate on something and pay particular attention to it
I know you’re tired, but try to focus.
focus on/upon:
We will focus upon three main topics.
focus attention on something:
Attention has been focused recently on the dangers of nuclear reactors.
focus your mind on something:
He found himself struggling to focus his mind on the discussion.
focus solely/entirely/particularly/exclusively on something:
Schools should not focus exclusively on exam results.
focus efforts/energy on something:
Efforts are now focused on cleaning up the beaches.
Synonyms and related words
To pay attention
concentrate
focus
listen
2
to turn a part on a camera, telescope, microscope etc until you can see something clearly
She leaned on a rock, focusing her binoculars.
focus on:
The television cameras were focused on the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
To take and develop photographs
blow up
capture
come out
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
3
if your eyes focus, or if you focus your eyes, you look at something carefully until you can start to see it clearly
It took a while for my eyes to focus in the dim light of the cave.
focus your eyes/gaze on someone/something:
Polly focused her gaze on Nathan.
Synonyms and related words
What the eyes can do
adjust
blink
blink
4
scienceif a lens or mirror focuses rays of light, or if they focus, they meet at a particular point
Synonyms and related words
What light can do
reflect
flood
fade

focus

verb intransitive/transitive

US /ˈfoʊkəs/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	focus
he/she/it	focusses or focuses
present participle	focusing or focussing
past tense	focused or focussed
past participle	focused or focussed

1
to concentrate on something and pay particular attention to it
I know you’re tired, but try to focus.
focus on/upon:
We will focus upon three main topics.
focus attention on something:
Attention has been focused recently on the dangers of nuclear reactors.
focus your mind on something:
He found himself struggling to focus his mind on the discussion.
focus solely/entirely/particularly/exclusively on something:
Schools should not focus exclusively on standardized test results.
focus efforts/energy on something:
Efforts are now focused on cleaning up the beaches.
Synonyms and related words
To pay attention
concentrate
focus
listen
2
to turn a part on a camera, telescope, microscope, etc. until you can see something clearly
She leaned on a rock, focusing her binoculars.
focus on:
The television cameras were focused on the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
To take and develop photographs
blow up
capture
come out
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
3
if your eyes focus, or if you focus your eyes, you look at something carefully until you can start to see it clearly
It took a while for my eyes to focus in the dim light of the cave.
focus your eyes/gaze on someone/something:
Polly focused her gaze on Nathan.
Synonyms and related words
What the eyes can do
adjust
blink
blink
4
scienceif a lens or mirror focuses rays of light, or if they focus, they meet at a particular point
Synonyms and related words
What light can do
reflect
flood
fade

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