Meaning & use
center
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Meanings
nouncountable
The middle point or part of something.
Grammar: Usually singular and followed by of: the center of the room. British spelling: centre.
Patterns
- the center of something
- in the center
Put the vase in the center of the table.
The center of the circle is marked with a dot.
A large fountain stands at the center of the square.
nouncountable
A place where a particular activity or service is concentrated.
Grammar: Often part of a compound: shopping center, health center.
Patterns
- a center for something
The city is a center for banking and trade.
She volunteers at a community center.
The research center employs two hundred scientists.
nounsingularfigurative
The main focus or most important person or thing in a situation.
Grammar: Often in the phrase the center of attention.
Patterns
- the center of something
She loved being the center of attention.
The family is at the center of his life.
The dispute is the center of the debate.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To place something in the middle, or to make something the main focus.
Grammar: Takes an object when placing: center the title. With on or around when meaning focus: the story centers on a family.
Patterns
- center something
- center on something
Center the title at the top of the page.
The discussion centered on rising costs.
The film centers around a young chef.
Word forms
| plural | centers |
|---|---|
| third person singular | centers |
| past tense | centered |
| past participle | centered |
| -ing form | centering |
Common combinations
- in the center of
- The statue stands in the center of the park.
- shopping center
- The new shopping center opens in May.
- center of attention
- He enjoys being the center of attention.
- city center
- Parking in the city center is expensive.
- center on
- The talks centered on climate policy.
- dead center
- The dart landed dead center.
Synonyms and how they differ
- middle
- Middle is a plain, everyday word and suits lines and time, while center suggests an exact point, especially of a circle.
- heart
- Heart is figurative and suggests the vital or most active part of something.
- hub
- Hub suggests a busy center that other things connect to, like a transport hub.
- core
- Core is the innermost or most essential part, often hidden inside.
Opposites
Word family
- central adjective
- in or near the middle, or most important
- centrally adverb
- in a middle position
- centralize verb
- to bring under one control or place
- centered adjective
- placed in the middle, or balanced
- centrist noun
- a person with moderate political views
Commonly confused: center or centre?
center vs centre
Centre is the British spelling; center is the American spelling. They are the same word.
Practice
The discussion mainly ______ on how to cut costs.
Choose one answer.
Center takes on in this sense, as in centered on. Depended needs another meaning and focused would need on, not at.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “center”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.