All 12 Uses

focus
in
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
(Auto-generated)

He looked at Annie's neatly arranged desk—the microphone, the plant, the canister of pencils, the trays of forms—but when he tried to focus on anything his gaze kept skittering away.
p. 150.1

focus = concentrate or look closely
She turned and looked at him, really focused on him, for the first time since they'd left the house.
p. 151.4 *

focused = looked closely or concentrated
The trick was to not focus on any single part of any tree, but to look through them all toward a point in the air.
p. 162.3

focus = look
But she kept focused long enough to maintain the conversation, which felt like a triumph.
p. 204.3

focused = paying attention
His father's expression was severe in the style of many of the portraits and his gaze focused on some distant concern.
p. 274.9

focused = looking
He focused on that point and took another step.
p. 376.2

focused = looked
They trotted off to grind their teeth against the shanks and imagine, with unfocused gazes, the animal from which the bones had come.
p. 394.7

unfocused = in a state where something cannot be seen clearly

standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unfocused means not and reverses the meaning of focused. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
He focused on the hovering seed of the yard light flickering through the hay and breathed the scent of pollen and decay that infused the night.
p. 470.1

focused = looked
It was difficult for Edgar to direct his eyes where he wanted, or even to focus.
p. 517.6

focus = direct
Yet, when he could focus, the can was pinched between his fingers, his hand having somehow corrected the mistake on its own.
p. 517.9

focus = pay attention
But the fresh night air was bringing him back from the ether and he could keep his eyes focused.
p. 519.8 *

focused = adjusted (to see clearly)
He knelt by Tinder and stroked his ruff and watched as the dog tongued his wounded paw in long strokes, eyes glassy and unfocused, as if staring into another world.†
p. 377.6

unfocused = not good at concentrating on one thing

standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unfocused means not and reverses the meaning of focused. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.

Click For
Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources
Grouped by 4 Meanings

Definitions:

(1) (focus as in: Turn your focus to question #2.)
to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
(2) (focus as in: The focus of our study is...)
where attention is concentrated or directed
(3) (focus as in: bring into focus; or out of focus)
a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly; or an adjustment made to permit a clear view
(4) (focus as with technical usage)
technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as:
- physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet
- geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola)
- geology — the point of origin of an earthquake
See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
(5) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)

focus in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (Auto-generated)

focus
in
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
(Auto-generated)