noun A2 Elementary Very common

center

SEHN-tuh

Also spelled centre (UK spelling)

Center (noun) means the point exactly in the middle of something, equally distant from all its edges or sides. Example: “She placed the vase in the center of the table.”

noun

The point exactly in the middle of something, equally distant from all its edges or sides.

"She placed the vase in the center of the table."

"The dartboard has a small red circle at its center."

A building or place set up for a particular activity or purpose.

"They dropped the kids off at the community center."

"The new shopping center opens next month."

The main topic, focus, or most important part of something.

"Climate policy was the center of the debate."

"She has always been the center of attention at parties."

In sports such as basketball, hockey, or football, a player positioned in the middle of the field or court.

"The center snapped the ball to start the play."

The moderate political position, between left and right.

"The new party is trying to appeal to voters in the center."

adj

Located in or relating to the middle of something.

"Take the center lane on the motorway."

verb

To place something in the middle, or to make it the main focus.

"Center the image on the page before printing."

"The campaign centered on lowering taxes."

How to Use Center

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe middle point of something, or a place/building built for a specific purpose.

UK vs US

US English spells it "center"; UK, Canadian, Australian, and most other English spells it "centre".

Common pairings

center of attention shopping center city center center stage

Word Forms

centered past tense, centers plural, centers singular

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She placed the vase in the _____ of the table.

Etymology

From Latin centrum, itself from Greek kentron ("sharp point, the fixed point of a compass"), from kentein, "to prick or goad".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

centroid center of gravity center of mass middle midst

Antonyms

periphery

Related Words

early late middle surrounding midst periphery

Rhymes for center

enter renter carpenter presenter

See all rhymes for center →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “center” mean?

The word “center” means the point exactly in the middle of something, equally distant from all its edges or sides. In plain terms, the middle point of something, or a place/building built for a specific purpose.

How do you pronounce “center”?

“Center” is pronounced SEHN-tuh (/ˈsɛn.təː/ in IPA).

How do you use “center” in a sentence?

Here is “center” used in a sentence: “She placed the vase in the center of the table.”

What is another word for “center”?

Words with a similar meaning to “center” include centroid, center of gravity, center of mass, middle and midst.

What is the opposite of “center”?

The opposite of “center” — its antonyms — is periphery.

What part of speech is “center”?

Depending on how it is used, “center” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “center” come from?

The word “center” comes from Latin. From Latin centrum, itself from Greek kentron ("sharp point, the fixed point of a compass"), from kentein, "to prick or goad".

Is “center” a common word?

“Center” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

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