attention span
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- the length of time you can concentrate on some idea or activity