Concentrate Meaning
Concentrate Definition & Usage
To focus one's mental attention on something, often with effort or intentionality.
Examples
- "She had to concentrate hard during the meeting to understand the new concepts."
- "He found it difficult to concentrate with all the noise in the background."
- "Can you concentrate on this task for another hour?"
- "In order to study effectively, it's important to concentrate without distractions."
- "The teacher asked the students to concentrate on the math problem in front of them."
To bring or direct something (like energy, resources, or materials) into a specific location or into a stronger state.
Examples
- "They concentrated their efforts on improving customer service."
- "The company decided to concentrate its resources on new technology development."
- "The scientist concentrated the laser beam to focus on the target."
- "The manager concentrated the team's work on high-priority projects."
- "The government concentrated on boosting economic growth in rural areas."
To become more dense or concentrated in form, often used in reference to liquids or substances.
Examples
- "As the temperature drops, the fog concentrates around the city center."
- "The solution will concentrate over time as the water evaporates."
- "You need to concentrate the syrup before you can use it in the recipe."
- "The juice was concentrated to make a more flavorful syrup."
- "The sugar in the mixture began to concentrate as the water boiled off."
Cultural Context
The word 'concentrate' comes from the Latin root 'concentrare,' meaning to bring together or focus. It was originally used in reference to bringing things together physically or intellectually but has evolved to include many meanings, particularly in modern contexts such as business and education.
The Scientist Who Could Not Focus
Story
The Scientist Who Could Not Focus
Dr. Sarah Thompson was renowned in her field for her work on advanced laser technology. But recently, she'd been struggling with something she hadn't experienced in years: a lack of concentration. During a critical experiment to concentrate the laser beam to pinpoint a target on a microscopic level, she kept getting distracted. Her mind wandered from the task at hand, and despite her best efforts, the results were inconsistent. Her assistant, Mark, noticed her frustration and suggested, 'Maybe you're overthinking it. Just focus on the task in front of you.' Sarah shook her head. She knew it wasn't just about focus—it was about bringing all her mental energy into this single moment. 'I need to concentrate,' she muttered to herself, hoping the clarity would come back. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and willed herself to concentrate fully. Slowly, the noise in her head faded, and she directed her attention to the laser, adjusting its power until it was precisely where it needed to be. As the beam began to concentrate, she knew she had regained her mental focus. Her next breakthrough was only a matter of time.