concentrate
KON-suhn-trayt
Concentrate (verb) means to focus one's full attention on something. Example: “Please be quiet so that I can concentrate on this difficult puzzle.”
verb
1
To focus one's full attention on something.
"Please be quiet so that I can concentrate on this difficult puzzle."
"She tried to concentrate on her homework despite the noise."
"It's hard to concentrate when you're hungry."
2
To bring together into one place, or to reduce something to a stronger, smaller form.
"Most of the city's shops are concentrated around the old market square."
"Boil the sauce slowly until it concentrates into a thick, rich paste."
"The company concentrated its resources on the new product line."
noun
1
A substance that has been reduced and strengthened, with excess liquid removed.
"Add a spoonful of tomato concentrate to give the stew a deeper flavour."
"This cleaning concentrate must be diluted with plenty of water before use."
"Mix the orange juice concentrate with water before drinking."
How to use concentrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo focus attention tightly on something, or to make something stronger by reducing its bulk (as with a concentrated liquid).
Common pairings
concentrate on
concentrate one's efforts
orange juice concentrate
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Word forms
- Plural
- concentrates
- Third person singular
- concentrates
- Past tense
- concentrated
- Comparative
- more concentrate
- Superlative
- most concentrate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please be quiet so that I can _____ on this difficult puzzle.
Etymology
Likely borrowed from French concentrer or a related Romance-language word, ultimately built from con- ("together") plus center, plus the verb-forming suffix -ate.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
deconcentrate
Related words
Rhymes for concentrate
See all rhymes for concentrate →Frequently asked questions
What does “concentrate” mean?
The word “concentrate” means to focus one's full attention on something. In plain terms, to focus attention tightly on something, or to make something stronger by reducing its bulk (as with a concentrated liquid).
How do you pronounce “concentrate”?
“Concentrate” is pronounced KON-suhn-trayt (/ˈkɑn.sən.tɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “concentrate” in a sentence?
Here is “concentrate” used in a sentence: “She tried to concentrate on her homework despite the noise.”
What part of speech is “concentrate”?
Depending on how it is used, “concentrate” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “concentrate” come from?
The word “concentrate” comes from French. Likely borrowed from French concentrer or a related Romance-language word, ultimately built from con- ("together") plus center, plus the verb-forming suffix -ate.
Is “concentrate” a common word?
“Concentrate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “concentrate” have?
“Concentrate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to focus one's full attention on something.
What is the difference between concentrate and focus?
As verbs the two overlap: both mean directing your full attention on something, and both take the preposition "on". Focus is slightly more common in modern usage and extends to lenses and cameras, while concentrate often implies sustained mental effort, as in "I can't concentrate with that noise."
Is it "concentrate on" or "concentrate in"?
When you mean giving your full attention, the preposition is "on": you concentrate on your work. "Concentrated in" belongs to the other sense — being gathered in one place — as in "the industry is concentrated in the north." Mixing the two is a common learner error.
What is the opposite of concentrate?
For the liquid sense, the opposite is dilute — adding liquid to weaken a solution rather than removing it to strengthen one. For the attention sense there is no exact single-word opposite; the idea is usually expressed with "lose focus" or "be distracted."
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