concentrate
[verb]
Synonyms:
- focus one's attention on, be engrossed in, put one's mind to, rack one's brains
- focus, bring to bear, centre, cluster, converge
- gather, accumulate, cluster, collect, congregate, huddle

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Antonyms: dissipate
Contrasted words: dispel, disperse, attenuate, dilute, extenuate, rarefy, thin, dispense, distribute
Related Words: establish, set, settle, assemble, collect, gather, heap, mass, pile

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English Thesaurus: pay attention, concentrate, keep your mind on something, keep your eyes on something, be engrossed in something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. con‧cen‧trate¹ S2 W2 AC /ˈkɒnsəntreɪt $ ˈkɑːn-/ verb
[Word Family: verb: concentrate; noun: concentration; adjective: concentrated]
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: con- + Latin centrum 'center']

1. [intransitive] to think very carefully about something that you are doing ⇒ concentration:
Now please concentrate.
Adrian was finding it difficult to concentrate.
concentrate on
Be quiet – let me concentrate on my homework.

2. [intransitive and transitive] to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere, or to cause people or things to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere ⇒ concentration
concentrate something in/at something
Italian industry is concentrated mainly in the north.
Construction of the aircraft is being concentrated at Prestwick.
concentrate in/at
Women concentrate in a small number of occupations.

3. something concentrates the mind if something concentrates the mind, it makes you think very clearly:
Relaxing in a Jacuzzi concentrates the mind wonderfully.

4. [transitive] to make a substance or liquid stronger by removing some of the water from it ⇒ concentrated
concentrate (something) on something phrasal verb
to give most of your attention or effort to one thing Synonym : focus on:
Doctors are aiming to concentrate more on prevention than cure.
concentrate your efforts/attention/energy/mind etc on something
I’m concentrating my efforts on writing my autobiography.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. concentrate² noun [uncountable and countable]
a substance or liquid which has been made stronger by removing most of the water from it:
orange juice concentrate

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

concentrate
verb
ADV. fiercely, hard, intently She was sitting at her desk concentrating hard.
fully, properly | mainly, predominantly, primarily | particularly | entirely, exclusively, purely, solely
VERB + CONCENTRATE be unable to, can't, couldn't I tried to work but I found I couldn't concentrate.
be difficult to, be hard to, be impossible to | tend to UK banks tend to concentrate on short-term lending.
try to
PREP. on/upon He concentrated mainly on the flying and spoke very little.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

concentrate
verb
1.
BAD: I am concentrated on both speaking and writing.
GOOD: I am concentrating on both speaking and writing.
BAD: A bus driver has to be concentrated and should not speak to the passengers.
GOOD: A bus driver has to concentrate and should not speak to the passengers.

Usage Note:
concentrate (on sth ) NOT be concentrated : 'How can children concentrate on their homework when they have one eye on the television?'
Compare: 'The juice is then concentrated by a process of evaporation.'

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2.
BAD: The teaching tends to concentrate in grammar.
GOOD: The teaching tends to concentrate on grammar.
BAD: I try to concentrate in one subject at a time.
GOOD: I try to concentrate on one subject at a time.

Usage Note:
concentrate on sth (NOT in ): 'She gave up teaching so that she could concentrate on research.'

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3.
BAD: I couldn't concentrate myself as there was someone talking.
GOOD: I couldn't concentrate as there was someone talking.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

pay attention to carefully listen to, look at, or think about something or someone:
She told the class to stop talking and pay attention.
In any relationship, it helps to pay attention to each other’s needs.
concentrate to think carefully about something that you are doing and not let other things disturb your thoughts:
I tried to read a few pages, but I was too upset to concentrate.
Children need their own quiet space where they can concentrate on their homework.
keep your mind on something to continue to pay attention to something, especially when you are very excited or worried about something else:
On Friday, the day of the party, I had a dreadful time keeping my mind on my work.
Good football players keep their minds on the game at all times.
keep your eyes on something to keep watching something carefully, so that you do not make any mistakes:
The first rule of driving is to keep your eyes on the road.
Keep your eyes on the ball – now swing!
be engrossed in something to be paying so much attention to a book, a conversation, some work etc, that you do not notice what is happening around you:
Helen was sitting up in bed, engrossed in a novel.
He was so engrossed in what he was doing he didn’t even hear the doorbell ring.
be absorbed in something to be giving all your attention to something, especially something you are reading, watching, or thinking about:
The little boy sat at the edge of the pond, totally absorbed in watching the fish.
He was a quiet man who often seemed to be absorbed in his own thoughts.
Matilda was curled up in an armchair, absorbed in a book.
give something/somebody your undivided attention to give all your attention to something or someone and not do anything else – used especially when this is something you want or need to do:
Come round when the kids are in bed so I can give you my undivided attention.
Once I’ve finished my exams, I’ll be able to give my undivided attention to looking for a job.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲