ADJ

central, main, major, primary, prime, principal
important, special
greater, increased
clear, sharp, strong
The company's restructuring is designed to give a sharper focus on key growth markets
narrow
I found the focus of the debate too narrow

VERB + FOCUS

act as, give sb/sth, provide (sb/sth with), serve as
Cities have always acted as the principal focus of political life
change, shift
At this stage of the trial the defence lawyer often shifts the focus onto the victim
bring sth into
This case has brought the problem of drug abuse in schools into sharp focus
come into
The question of compensation comes into focus

FOCUS + VERB

be on sb/sth
Our primary focus this term will be on group work
shift
The focus has now shifted towards the problem of long-term unemployment

PREP

~ for
She became a focus for all his anger
~ on
an increased focus on younger people

PHRASES

a change/shift of focus, the focus of attention
He found he was now their main focus of attention

ADJ

sharp
soft
soft focus shots of cuddly animals

VERB + FOCUS

come into
When I got glasses suddenly the whole world came into focus (= became clear to see)

PREP

in ~
The binoculars were not in focus (= were not showing things clearly)
out of ~
The children's faces are badly out of focus (= not clearly shown) in the photograph

ADV

heavily, largely, mainly, particularly, primarily, principally
entirely, exclusively, solely
The study focuses exclusively on secondary schools
increasingly
fully
firmly
The attention of the news media was firmly focused on the elections
specifically
clearly
directly
closely, sharply
narrowly
initially
inevitably
He inevitably focused on his own concerns, with only a passing query about Jeff
traditionally
Degree courses have traditionally focused on the established great writers of the past

VERB + FOCUS

need to
try to
decide to
tend to
help (to)
Think of some questions that will help focus the discussion

PREP

on/upon
We need to focus upon the main issues

PHRASES

highly/tightly focused
The department undertakes highly focused research
narrowly focused
The study was criticized for being too narrowly focused

ADV

automatically

VERB + FOCUS

try to
She blinked and tried to focus

PREP

on/upon
The eye will automatically focus on the small group in the foreground