Learn English – the difference in meaning between ‘concentrate ‘ and ‘focus’

meaningword-difference

Is there any difference? Any situations in which one work but not the other?

Best Answer

As verbs, the two can mean the same, as weevil points out: to pay specific attention to an object or action that one performs.

When that meaning is what you want to convey, the two are indeed interchangeable.

However, both verbs have other meanings as well, and they do certainly not mean the same.

I can, for instance, focus a camera (or more precisely, a lens) or I can focus a light beam (by use of a lens).

I can concentrate a solution (making it "stronger"), items can concentrate around a central point.