Focused: meaning, definitions and examples

🎯

Add to dictionary

focused

[ˈfoʊkəst ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

mental state

Having one's attention, thoughts, or efforts concentrated on a particular task or activity.

Synonyms

attentive, concentrated, engaged, intent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
focused	Use when someone is giving their full attention to one specific thing, usually for task completion. It emphasizes the exclusion of distractions. She remained focused on her studies despite the noise. He is focused on finishing the project by the deadline.
concentrated	Use when someone is giving all their mental effort to one activity or thought, often for a sustained period. It can suggest a more intense level of mental activity. She concentrated hard while reading the difficult scientific paper. His concentrated efforts ensured the success of the campaign.
attentive	Use when someone is paying close attention to details or to what someone else is saying or doing. It often implies care and consideration. The teacher appreciated the attentive students in the front row. He was always attentive to his grandmother's needs.
engaged	Use when someone is actively involved or participating in something, suggesting a deeper level of interest and involvement. It often applies to social, educational, or work-related activities. The students were fully engaged in the interactive lesson. He was deeply engaged in the discussion about climate change.
intent	Use when someone is determined to achieve something and paying close attention to make it happen. It carries a sense of strong purpose or resolve. She listened with an intent expression, eager to learn. His intent focus on winning the match was clear to everyone.

Examples of usage

She was very focused during the exam.
He is always focused on his work.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

action

To concentrate one's attention or effort on a particular task or activity.

Synonyms

apply oneself, center, concentrate, direct.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
focused	Used when someone is giving all their attention to one particular thing or goal. Suitable for both personal and professional contexts. She remained focused throughout the entire exam. He is very focused on his career right now.
concentrate	Commonly used when someone is giving their mental effort towards a specific task or object, usually short-term focused. Applicable in daily tasks and work-related scenarios. She needs complete silence to concentrate on her writing. I find it difficult to concentrate when there is a lot of noise.
center	Usually relates to bringing one's thoughts or actions towards a central point or main idea. Often used in meditation, wellness, or when discussing strategic focus. He found it hard to center his thoughts during the stressful meeting. To perform better, she needs to center herself and reduce distractions.
direct	Often used when channeling physical or mental energy towards a particular objective. Suitable for both personal ambitions and professional tasks. You should direct your efforts towards improving your skills. He directed all his energy into completing the project.
apply oneself	Used to describe someone putting effort and dedication into a task, often implying persistence over time. Frequently found in educational or developmental contexts. If you apply yourself to your studies, you will succeed. She applied herself to learning the piano.

Examples of usage

She focused on finishing the project before the deadline.
He needs to focus more on his studies.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'focus,' which means 'hearth' or 'fireplace,' where the center of attention would be.
In the early days, 'focus' was used to refer to a central point of light, making it a metaphor for concentration.
By the 17th century, the term started to be used more broadly in relation to clarity and emphasis.

Psychology

Studies show that deep focus can enhance productivity and improve problem-solving abilities.
Multitasking has been found to reduce overall focus, diminishing efficiency when attempting to manage several tasks at once.
Meditation and mindfulness practices are praised for helping individuals improve their ability to focus and concentrate.

Education

Focused learning strategies, like setting specific goals, can significantly improve a student's retention of information.
Teachers often emphasize the importance of focus in classrooms to foster a better learning environment.
Educational researchers suggest that short breaks can help to reset and refocus attention during long study sessions.

Technology

Many modern applications are designed to help users maintain focus and reduce distractions, promoting productivity.
The rise of 'focus mode' features in smartphones and computers helps users block notifications and stay on task.
Virtual reality technologies are being explored for their potential to enhance focus by immersing users in controlled environments.

Pop Culture

In movies and books, characters often achieve their goals through a strong focus, inspiring narratives about perseverance.
Medieval knights and heroes are often portrayed as being 'focused' on their quests, representing determination and clarity of purpose.
Popular motivational speakers often use stories of focus to encourage their audiences to pursue their dreams without distractions.

Translations

Translations of the word "focused" in other languages:

🇵🇹 focado

🇮🇳 केंद्रित

🇩🇪 fokussiert

🇮🇩 fokus

🇺🇦 зосереджений

🇵🇱 skoncentrowany

🇯🇵 集中した

🇫🇷 concentré

🇪🇸 enfocado

🇹🇷 odaklanmış

🇰🇷 집중된

🇸🇦 مركّز

🇨🇿 soustředěný

🇸🇰 sústredený

🇨🇳 专注

🇸🇮 osredotočen

🇮🇸 einbeittur

🇰🇿 шоғырланған

🇬🇪 კონცენტრირებული

🇦🇿 cəmlənmiş

🇲🇽 enfocado

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,061, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

...
3058 briefly
3059 trace
3060 gate
3061 focused
3062 friendly
3063 allowance
3064 totally
...