concentrate on
/ˈkɒnsəntreɪt ɒn/phrasal verb★Intermediate◆phrasal verb
general
To focus one's attention or effort on a particular task or subject
He tried to concentrate on the lecture despite the noise.
He attempted to focus on the lecture despite the distractions.
Concentrate on your breathing to reduce stress.
Focus on your breathing to lower stress levels.
💡
Often used when emphasizing the need for focus or avoiding distractions.
Collocations
concentrate on detailsfocus on small aspectsconcentrate on workfocus on tasks
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
pay attention tophrase
to notice or focus on something
zero in onphrasal verb
to focus precisely on something
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'concentrate on' when advising someone to avoid distractions and focus.
⚡Gold Rule
Correct Usage
Always follow 'concentrate' with 'on' to indicate the subject of focus.
📖Word Origin
From Latin 'concentrare' (to bring to a center) + 'on' (preposition indicating focus)
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when advising someone to avoid distractions.
Word Breakdown
concentrate
to gather or focus
rooton
indicates the subject of focus
prepositionEnglish Dictionary