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Meaning & use

focusing

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈfəʊkəsɪŋ/
US/ˈfoʊkəsɪŋ/

“focusing” is a form of “focus”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    Directing your attention or effort toward one particular thing.

    Grammar: Often used in the progressive: is focusing on. Can also be a gerund: Focusing on one task helps.

    Patterns

    • focusing on something
    • focusing your attention on something
    • focusing too much on something

    She is focusing on her final exams this month.

    Focusing on one problem at a time makes the work easier.

    The team is focusing its efforts on customer service.

  2. verbtransitive or intransitive

    Adjusting a camera, telescope, or your eyes so that an image becomes clear.

    Grammar: Can take an object (focus the lens) or be used without one (the camera is focusing).

    Patterns

    • focusing the lens
    • focusing on something
    • focusing your eyes

    He is focusing the microscope on the tiny cells.

    The camera keeps focusing on the background instead of the people.

    She had trouble focusing her eyes after the long flight.

Word forms

base formfocus
third person singularfocuses
past tensefocused
past participlefocused
-ing formfocusing

Common combinations

focusing on
The report is focusing on climate change.
focusing attention
The teacher is focusing attention on grammar.
focusing your efforts
They are focusing their efforts on the new product.
focusing the camera
She is focusing the camera on the bird.

Synonyms and how they differ

concentrating
Similar, but 'concentrating' often suggests mental effort, while 'focusing' can also mean adjusting a lens or beam.
centering
Means making something the central point; 'focusing' is more about directing attention or making an image clear.

Opposites

distractingblurring

Word family

focus noun
The main point of attention or the clear center of an image.
focused adjective
Giving all your attention to something, or adjusted to be clear.
focus group noun
A small group of people asked for their opinions on a product or idea.

Commonly confused: focusing or focussing?

focusing vs focussing

British spelling with double 's'. Both are correct, but 'focusing' is more common in American English.

Practice

She is focusing ___ her studies this semester.

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