Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

focus

/ˈfoʊ.kəs/
noun, verb★Intermediate— concentration of attention
general

The center of interest or activity; a point of concentration

The camera's focus was sharp and clear.

The camera captured a clear and precise image.

💡

Can refer to both physical and mental concentration.

general

To concentrate one's attention or effort on a particular task or subject

He focused on solving the problem step by step.

He concentrated on solving the problem methodically.

💡

Often used with 'on' to specify the object of focus.

Collocations

focus onconcentrate onlose focusbecome distractedin focusclear and sharp

Synonyms

concentrationattentionattentivenessconcentration

Antonyms

distractiondiversionscatterunfocus

Related Phrases

out of focusphrase
not clear or sharp
keep your eye on the ballidiom
stay focused on the main goal

💡Pro Tip

Verb Usage

When using 'focus' as a verb, remember to include 'on' to specify what you are concentrating on.

⚡Gold Rule

Preposition Rule

Always use 'on' after 'focus' when specifying the object of concentration.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'focare', meaning 'to hearth, fire', related to 'focus' as the center of heat or light.

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it often takes the preposition 'on' to specify the object of focus.

Word Breakdown

foc
center, hearth
root
+
-us
related to
suffix
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.