He needed to refocus his thoughts.
Source: tatoeba (11773928)
Refocus
Synonyms for "refocus" (48 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Noun(5 words)
adjust goalsattention shiftcamera focuschange concentrationfocus adjustment
Verb(3 words)
Adjective(2 words)
central reformchanged concentration
Strong matches (14)
Related words (24)
Noun(15 words)
realign goalsrecenter attentionredefine scoperedirectredirect focusredirectingrefocusingrefocussingreframe focusreframe objectivesrenewed focusreorientationrepositionrevise planshift attention
Verb(9 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adjust goals, alter concentration, attention shift, camera focus, central reform.
- Sentence evidence is available for refocus, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "refocus".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "refocus"
Keep "refocus" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "refocus" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "refocus", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "refocus" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
14 entriesadjust assessmentattention shiftattentional shiftcamera adjustmentfocus optimizationfocus realignmentgoal realignmentlens tuningnarrowed focusrealign goalsredirected attentionrevise plantask reallocationupdate rubrics
Collocations
11 entriesrefocus attentionrefocus classroom timerefocus effortrefocus effortsrefocus learning goalsrefocus on goalrefocus on topicrefocus research projectrefocus strategyrefocus study planrefocus time
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Labour frontbencher Louise Haigh (Shadow Transport Secretary for heaven's sake!) initially lambasted TOCs before the handful of specialist rail commentators fell on her tweets and she changed her tune, refocusing her fire on Government.
Source: wiktionary
to refocus a microscope
Source: wiktionary
These two sets of questions are interrelated in such a way that they often actually work to prevent productive discussion of the movie's politics. Just a few observations might make this point clear, and help to refocus the debate that has surrounded the film since its opening earlier this summer.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "refocus"?
Closest matches include adjust goals, alter concentration, attention shift, camera focus, central reform.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "refocus"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.