Oxford Essential Dictionary
verb (focuses, focusing, focused )
1 to give all your attention to something:
to focus on a problem
2 to move part of a camera, etc. so that you can see things through it clearly
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
focus
I. fo‧cus1 S3 W2 AC /ˈfəʊkəs $ ˈfoʊ-/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle focused or focussed, present participle focusing or focussing)
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: 'hearth (= place for a fire in a house)']
1. GIVE ATTENTION TO SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to give special attention to one particular person or thing, or to make people do this SYN concentrate
focus on
He needs to focus more on his career.
focus your attention/mind/efforts on something
She tried to focus her mind on her work.
focus (sb’s) mind/attention (on something) (=make people give their attention to something)
We need to focus public attention on this issue.
2. CAMERA/TELESCOPE [intransitive and transitive] to point a camera or ↑telescope at something, and change the controls slightly so that you can see that thing clearly
focus on
She turned the camera and focussed on Martin’s face.
focus something on something
He focused his binoculars on the building opposite.
3. EYES [intransitive and transitive] if your eyes focus, or if you focus your eyes, you look at something and can see it clearly
focus on
All eyes focussed on her.
His eyes were focussed straight ahead.
4. LIGHT [transitive] if you focus beams of light, you aim them onto a particular place
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
focus
focus AW [focus focuses focusses focused focussed focusing focussing] verb, noun [ˈfəʊkəs] [ˈfoʊkəs]
verb (-s- or -ss-)
1. intransitive, transitive to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular subject, situation or person rather than another
• ~ (on/upon sb/sth) The discussion focused on three main problems.
• Each exercise focuses on a different grammar point.
• ~ sth (on/upon sb/sth) The visit helped to focus world attention on the plight of the refugees.
2. intransitive, transitive (of your eyes, a camera, etc.) to adapt or be adjusted so that things can be seen clearly; to adjust sth so that you can see things clearly
• It took a few moments for her eyes to focus in the dark.
• ~ on sb/sth Let your eyes focus on objects that are further away from you.
• In this scene, the camera focuses on the actor's face.
• ~ sth (on sb/sth) He focused his blue eyes on her.
• I quickly focused the camera on the children.
3. transitive ~ sth (on sth) (technical) to aim light onto a particular point using a lens
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
mid 17th cent. (as a term in geometry and physics): from Latin, literally domestic hearth.
Thesaurus:
focus verb
1. I, T
• The discussion focused on two main issues.
target • • direct • • turn • • be aimed at sb • • orient • |formal address •
focus/target/turn sth on sth
efforts/resources/campaigns are focused on/targeted at/directed at sb/sth
attention is focused on/directed at/turned to sb/sth
2. I, T
• Focus the camera on the children.
point • • aim • • direct • • turn •
focus/turn sth on sb/sth
point/aim/direct sth at sb/sth
focus/point/aim a camera
focus/aim/direct (a) light
Example Bank:
• Degree courses have traditionally focused on the established great writers of the past.
• He inevitably focused on his own concerns, with only a passing query about Jeff.
• She blinked and tried to focus.
• The attention of the news media was firmly focused on the elections.
• The department undertakes highly focused research.
• The eye will automatically focus on the small group in the foreground.
• The study focuses exclusively on schools.
• The study was criticized for being too narrowly focused.
• Think of some questions that will help focus the discussion.
• We need to focus upon the main issues.
• At the moment, aid agencies are focusing their efforts on women and children.
• I was finding it hard to focus my mind properly.
• In this scene, the camera focuses on the actor's face.
• Much recent concern has been focused upon sea level rises.
• Our activity is mainly focused on responding to emergencies.
• Schools should not focus exclusively on exam results.
• She used her glasses to focus the sun's rays on the twigs and spark a fire.
• The discussion focused on three main issues.
• This provides an opportunity to focus research on the health needs of the population.
• Where do you really wish to focus your time and energy?
• You need to focus closely on the matter at hand.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
focus / ˈfəʊ.kəs / / ˈfoʊ- / verb ( -s- )
[ T ] If you focus a device such as a camera or microscope, you move a device on the lens so that you can see a clear picture. [ I or T ] If you focus your eyes, or if your eyes focus, you try to look directly at an object so that you can see it more clearly:
When they first took the bandages off, she/her eyes couldn't focus properly (= she couldn't see clearly) .
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
focus
[fo͟ʊsaɪ]
♦♦
focuses, focusing, focused
(The spellings focusses, focussing, focussed are also used. The plural of the noun can be either foci or focuses.)
1) V-ERG If you focus on a particular topic or if your attention is focused on it, you concentrate on it and think about it, discuss it, or deal with it, rather than dealing with other topics.
[V on n] The research effort has focused on tracing the effects of growing levels of five compounds...
[V on n] He is currently focusing on assessment and development...
[V n on n] Today he was able to focus his message exclusively on the economy...
[V n on n] Many of the papers focus their attention on the controversy surrounding statements reportedly made by the Foreign Secretary.
Syn:
concentrate
2) N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with supp The focus of something is the main topic or main thing that it is concerned with.
The UN's role in promoting peace is increasingly the focus of international attention...
The new system is the focus of controversy...
Her children are the main focus of her life.
3) N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with supp, oft N on n Your focus on something is the special attention that you pay it.
He said his sudden focus on foreign policy was not motivated by presidential politics...
The report's focus is on how technology affects human life rather than business...
IBM has also shifted its focus from mainframes to personal computers.
4) N-UNCOUNT If you say that something has a focus, you mean that you can see a purpose in it.
Somehow, though, their latest LP has a focus that the others have lacked...
Suddenly all of the bizarre and seemingly isolated examples took on a meaningful focus.
5) V-ERG If you focus your eyes or if your eyes focus, your eyes adjust so that you can clearly see the thing that you want to look at. If you focus a camera, telescope, or other instrument, you adjust it so that you can see clearly through it.
[V n] Kelly couldn't focus his eyes well enough to tell if the figure was male or female...
[V on n] His eyes slowly began to focus on what looked like a small dark ball...
[V n on n] He found the binoculars and focused them on the boat...
[V-ed] Had she kept the camera focused on the river bank she might have captured a vital scene. [Also V]
6) N-UNCOUNT You use focus to refer to the fact of adjusting your eyes or a camera, telescope, or other instrument, and to the degree to which you can see clearly.
His focus switched to the little white ball...
Together these factors determine the depth of focus...
It has no manual focus facility.
7) VERB If you focus rays of light on a particular point, you pass them through a lens or reflect them from a mirror so that they meet at that point.
[V n prep] Magnetic coils focus the electron beams into fine spots.
8) N-COUNT The focus of a number of rays or lines is the point at which they meet. [TECHNICAL]
9) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If an image or a camera, telescope, or other instrument is in focus, the edges of what you see are clear and sharp.
Pictures should be in focus, with realistic colours and well composed groups.
Ant:
out of focus
10) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If something is in focus, it is being discussed or its purpose and nature are clear.
This aggression is the real issue the world should be concerned about. We want to keep that in focus...
These issues were brought into sharp focus by the Gulf crisis.
Ant:
out of focus
11) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If an image or a camera, telescope, or other instrument is out of focus, the edges of what you see are unclear.
In some of the pictures the subjects are out of focus while the background is sharp.
...a lot of out-of-focus photographs.
Ant:
in focus
12) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If something is out of focus, it is not being discussed or its purpose or nature is not clear.
The deficit in the US balance of payments put these considerations out of focus...
The movement towards democracy in Latin America and the foreign debt problems that have plagued it have gone out of focus.
Ant:
in focus
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
focus
2focus verb -cuses also -cus·ses; -cused also -cussed; -cus·ing also -cus·sing
1 [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as attention) to be directed at something specific - + on
• The crime has focused public attention on the problem of parole.
• We need to focus our efforts on getting the work done.
2 [no obj] : to direct your attention or effort at something specific
• She has an amazing ability to focus for hours at a time.
- often + on
• We need to focus on getting the work done.
• The day's news coverage focused primarily/mainly on the scandal.
3 : to adjust (something, such as a lens or a camera) to make an image clear
[+ obj]
• focus a telescope
• I wasn't able to focus the camera.
• He focused his binoculars on a distant ship. [=he looked through his binoculars at a distant ship]
[no obj]
• I wasn't able to get the camera to focus.
✦If you focus your eyes on something or if your eyes focus on something, you look at that thing so that you can see it clearly.
• Everyone focused their eyes on her [=everyone looked at her] when she entered the room.
• His eyes were focused on the road. = He kept his eyes focused on the road.
4 technical : to cause (light) to come together at a point
[+ obj]
• focus rays of light
[no obj]
• laser beams that focus at a single point