Definition

Noun: The length of time during which a person can concentrate on a single idea, task, or activity without becoming distracted.

Usage

"Attention span" is used to describe a person's capacity for sustained focus. It is often discussed in contexts like education, psychology, and work performance. It is typically a countable noun (e.g., a short attention span, long attention spans).

Examples

• Children often have shorter attention spans than adults.
• The constant notifications are reducing our collective attention span.
• A key challenge for online teachers is capturing students' attention span.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a short/long attention span": This is the most common construction to describe this capacity.
  • The lecture was so engaging that even those with a short attention span were captivated.
• "Attention span of a gnat": An informal, hyperbolic idiom used to criticize someone for being very easily distracted.
  • He can't sit through a movie; he has the attention span of a gnat.

Variants and Related Words

• Attention (n): The act or state of applying one's mind to something. (This is the core concept from which "attention span" is derived).
• Concentration (n): The action or power of focusing one's attention.
• Focus (n): The center of interest or activity; the state of clear visual or mental definition.

Synonyms

• Concentration period
• Focus duration
• Span of attention

Related Phrases

• To hold someone's attention: To keep someone interested and focused.
  • The speaker used stories to hold the audience's attention.
• To pay attention: To listen to, watch, or think about something carefully.
  • It's important to pay attention during the safety briefing.

Related Idioms

• "To lose one's train of thought": To forget what one was talking or thinking about due to a distraction. This is a result of a break in attention.
  • Sorry, I lost my train of thought. What was I saying?

Noun

1. the length of time you can concentrate on some idea or activity