Focused
/ˈfəʊkəst/
Definitions
2 meaningsPaying careful attention to something; concentrated.
/ˈfəʊkəst/
Paying close attention to something or someone
The students were focused on the lecture.
💡 Simply: Being really, really good at paying attention to one thing. Like, if you're playing a game and you're 'focused,' it means you're not looking around or thinking about other things.
👶 For kids: When you are focused, you are paying super close attention to one thing.
More Examples
He remained focused despite the distractions.
The athlete was focused on winning the race.
We need to stay focused to finish the project on time.
How It's Used
"She was focused on her work."
"The company is focused on expanding its market share."
Having a central point or purpose; having clear detail.
/ˈfəʊkəst/
Of or relating to a point of concentration; the point at which an image is formed.
The photographer adjusted the lens until the image was focused.
💡 Simply: If something is 'focused,' it can also mean that a picture or image is clear and not blurry, like when you turn the little ring on a camera lens until the picture looks sharp.
👶 For kids: When a picture is focused, it looks clear, not blurry.
More Examples
The microscope provided a focused view of the cells.
The focused light beam was used to heat the material.
The scientist needs to be more focused when working on the project.
How It's Used
"The image was not focused, so it was blurry."
"The experiment required a focused beam of light."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
focused on
To give your attention to something; to concentrate on something.
"The company is focused on improving its customer service."
From the verb 'focus', which entered English in the 17th century from Latin 'focus' meaning 'hearth' or 'center'. The verb and the adjective are related to the idea of bringing things to a central point or attention.
The term 'focused' and the verb 'focus' began to gain traction in the scientific and technical fields before spreading to wider usage.
Memory tip
Think of a laser beam—its energy is focused, making it powerful.
Word Origin
"hearth, center"