focus on

/ˈfoʊ.kəs ɒn/
phrasal verbIntermediatephrasal verb
general

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

The company needs to focus on customer satisfaction to improve its reputation.

The company must concentrate its efforts on improving customer satisfaction to enhance its reputation.

He tried to focus on the positive aspects of the situation.

He attempted to concentrate on the positive aspects of the situation.

💡

Often used to emphasize prioritization or the act of directing attention to something specific.

Collocations

focus on detailspay close attention to specific aspectsfocus on goalsconcentrate on achieving objectivesfocus on the taskdirect attention to the current activity

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

lose focusphrase
to become distracted or unfocused
out of focusphrase
not clearly seen or understood

💡Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use 'focus on' when you want to emphasize the act of directing attention to something specific, often in a prioritized manner.

Gold Rule

Grammar Rule

'Focus on' is typically followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., 'focus on the task' or 'focus on improving').

📖Word Origin

From the Latin 'focus' meaning 'hearth' or 'fireplace', later adopted in English to mean a central point of attention or activity.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate prioritization or the act of directing attention to something specific.

Word Breakdown

focus
central point of attention or activity
root
+
on
indicates the object of attention
preposition
English Dictionary