Definition

Verb: - To direct one's attention, effort, or resources towards a specific subject, task, or point. It implies focusing mental or physical energy on one primary thing, often to the exclusion of other distractions.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the act of making something the central object of one's focus or activity. It is often followed by the object of focus (a noun, pronoun, or gerund).

Examples

• Verb:
  • You need to concentrate on your studies if you want to pass the exam.
  • The company has decided to concentrate on its core products this year.
  • She closed her eyes to concentrate on the sounds around her.

Advanced Usage

• "to concentrate one's efforts on": To specifically direct one's work or energy towards a goal.
  • The research team is concentrating its efforts on finding a vaccine.

Variants and Related Words

• Focus on (verb phrase): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably.
  • Let's focus on the main issue.
• Center on/upon (verb phrase): To have as a central point or primary concern.
  • The discussion centered on budget concerns.
• Zero in on (phrasal verb): To focus very precisely on a target.
  • The detective zeroed in on the key piece of evidence.

Synonyms

• Focus on
• Center on
• Attend to
• Apply oneself to
• Devote oneself to

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Concentrate upon: A more formal variant of "concentrate on," with identical meaning.
  • He concentrated upon the task at hand.

Related Idioms

• "To put one's mind to (something)": To decide to concentrate on and try hard to achieve something.
  • You can solve this puzzle if you put your mind to it.
• "To have a one-track mind": To be able to think or concentrate on only one subject at a time (often used humorously or critically).
  • Ever since he saw the car, he's had a one-track mind about buying it.

Verb

1. center upon
   • Her entire attention centered on her children
   • Our day revolved around our work