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⇱ focus - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

focus

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈfəʊkəs/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈfoʊkəs/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(fō′kəs)

Inflections of 'focus' (n):
focuses
npl
foci
npl
Inflections of 'focus' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
Spellings with a double "s" are mainly used in UK English. They are correct in US English, but rare.
focuses
v 3rd person singular (US & UK)
focusses
v 3rd person singular (Mainly UK)
focusing
v pres p (US & UK)
focussing
v pres p (Mainly UK)
focused
v past (US & UK)
focussed
v past (Mainly UK)
focused
v past p (US & UK)
focussed
v past p (Mainly UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fo•cus /ˈfoʊkəs/USA pronunciation   n., pl. -cus•es, -ci /-saɪ, -kaɪ/USA pronunciation  
n. 
  1. a central point, such as of attraction, attention, or activity:[countable]His focus was on earning a living.
  2. Physics[countable] a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation meet after being refracted or reflected.
  3. Optics the adjustment of an optical device that is necessary to produce a clear image:[uncountable]The image is in focus.

v. 
  1. to (cause to) come to a focus or into focus: [~ + object]to focus the lens of a camera.[no object]For a few moments my eyes wouldn't focus.
  2. to concentrate: [~ + object]I tried to focus my thoughts.[no object;
    (~ + on + object)]    I tried to focus on the project.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
fo•cus  (fō′kəs),USA pronunciation n., pl. -cus•es, -ci (-sī, -kī),USA pronunciation 
n. 
  1. a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity:The need to prevent a nuclear war became the focus of all diplomatic efforts.
  2. Physicsa point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation, meet after being refracted or reflected.
  3. Optics
    • the focal point of a lens.
    • the focal length of a lens.
    • the clear and sharply defined condition of an image.
    • the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image:in focus; out of focus.
  4. Mathematics[Geom.](of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve. See diag. under ellipse, hyperbola, parabola. 
  5. Geologythe point of origin of an earthquake.
  6. [Pathol.]the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes.

v.t. 
  1. to bring to a focus or into focus:to focus the lens of a camera.
  2. to concentrate:to focus one's thoughts.

v.i. 
  1. to become focused.
  • Latin: fireplace, hearth
  • 1635–45
fo′cus•a•ble, adj. 
fo′cus•er, n. 
    1. center, heart, core, nucleus.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
focus /ˈfəʊkəs/ n ( pl -cuses, -ci /-saɪ; -kaɪ; -kiː/)
  1. a point of convergence of light or other electromagnetic radiation, particles, sound waves, etc, or a point from which they appear to diverge
  2. another name for focal point, focal length
  3. the state of an optical image when it is distinct and clearly defined or the state of an instrument producing this image: the picture is in focus, the telescope is out of focus
  4. a point upon which attention, activity, etc, is directed or concentrated
  5. a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section, used when defining its eccentricity
  6. the point beneath the earth's surface at which an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion originates
    Compare epicentre
  7. the main site of an infection or a localized region of diseased tissue
 vb ( -cuses, -cusing, -cused, -cusses, -cussing, -cussed)
  1. to bring or come to a focus or into focus
  2. (transitive) often followed by on: to fix attention (on); concentrate
Etymology: 17th Century: via New Latin from Latin: hearth, fireplaceˈfocuser n
'focus' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: the [regional, national, domestic] focus, focus the [camera, lens], a focus group, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "focus" in the title:

(It/This/That) helps everyone not to lose focus
a focus of America's collectivist panic
a focus on professional development of teachers and parent training
a greater focus on matter
a key focus of interest in my account
a narcissistic focus
A similar focus was adopted more recently by Coniam
a specific focus of his
A word to describe something you focus attention on
a/the primary focus [article]
adverb position in "slightly shifting the focus"
all the warning signs I had missed came sharply into focus,
Also listening to the rains help me <to> relax and focus more
although not often a focus of work on
anyone is identified for this focus
as a focus of the probe
"As humans we tend to focus on the differences between us...
As the single focus [as?]
as well as (information focus)
Asking for change but the smaller denomination is the focus
be focused on vs. to focus on
benefiting from strong focus on innovation
Better stick to/stay loyal to/focus on
blurred at the edges of Rune’s vision while she tried to focus
bring it into focus = put it on focus
But I focus only on her face
But whereas the focus of Monet and Pissarro
"Centre upon / be centred upon something" = "focus upon something"?
change your focus
Changing the focus of this sentence
more...

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