center
gb/sˈɛntɚ/ us/sˈɛntɚ/
A1
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
relation
1
middle point or part
The middle part of something, the same distance from all sides.
Usage pattern:
the center of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'center' with 'middle' in expressions like 'in the middle of nowhere', which is not usually replaced by 'center'.
Synonyms
middle (More general; can be used in both physical and abstract contexts.)
Antonyms
edge (Refers to the outer limit or boundary, opposite of the middle.)
Collocations
center of attention
|shopping center
|center of town
|center circle
|center point
Themes
geometry
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The statue stands in the center of the park.
- She placed the vase in the center of the table.
- The city center is always busy on weekends.
- Draw a dot in the exact center of the circle.
- He stood at the center of the stage.
Learner examples
- The ball is in the center of the room.
- I live near the center of the city.
- The cake has cream in the center.
- We met in the center of the park.
Verb
A2
action
2
place in the middle
To put something in the middle of an area or space.
Usage pattern:
to center [something] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'center' with 'focus' when talking about attention rather than physical placement.
Synonyms
align (In technical contexts, can mean to arrange along a line rather than just in the middle.)
Antonyms
off-center (Placed away from the middle position.)
Collocations
center text
|center a picture
|center the ball
Themes
daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Center the title on the page before printing.
- She centered her chair in front of the desk.
- Please center the photo on the wall.
- The coach told him to center the ball.
- He centered the image on the screen.
Learner examples
- Center the cake on the table.
- Please center your name on the paper.
- She centered her bed in the room.
- We centered the TV on the wall.
Noun
A2
entity
3
main place for activities
A main place where people do a certain activity or get services.
Synonyms
hub (Informal; often used for places that are busy and connected to many things.)
Antonyms
periphery (Outer area far from main activities.)
Collocations
sports center
|community center
|call center
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
Examples
- The new shopping center opened last month.
- He works at a research center downtown.
- The sports center has a swimming pool and gym.
- Our community center offers free classes.
- The city built a new cultural center.
Learner examples
- I go to the sports center every week.
- She works at a call center.
- We meet at the community center.
- The new shopping center is big.
Verb
B1
action
4
focus attention or effort
To give most attention or effort to one thing.
Usage pattern:
to center [something] on [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'around' instead of 'on' after 'center', though both can be correct in informal English.
Synonyms
focus (More common and general for directing attention.)
Antonyms
distract (To draw attention away from something.)
Collocations
center efforts on
|center discussion on
Themes
emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The discussion centered on climate change.
- His research centers on renewable energy.
- We should center our efforts on helping those in need.
- Her speech centered around education reform.
- This movie centers on a young woman's journey.
Learner examples
- The class centered on grammar today.
- Her talk centered on health.
- We will center on this topic tomorrow.
- My work centers on teaching children.
Grammar
Dictionary form
center
IPA
GB/sˈɛntɚ/
US/sˈɛntɚ/
Syllables & stress
cen - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: center
- Variant Spelling: centre
- Plural: centers
Verb
- Base: center
- Variant Spelling: centre
- 3rd Person Singular: centers
- Present Participle: centering
- Past: centered
Word family
Forms
Core family
central
adjective A2
centrally
adverb
Related words
centerpiece
noun
Negative and opposite forms
decentralize
verb C1
Advanced or less common
centralization
noun C1
centrality
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: centre Verb
- Spelling Variant: centre Noun
Expressions
center of attention
1/sˈɛntɚ əv ətˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
main focus of interest
The person or thing that everyone is looking at or talking about.
Examples
- She was the center of attention at the party.
- The strange painting became the center of attention in the gallery.
center stage
1/sˈɛntɚ stˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
most important position or role
The most important place or role in an event or situation.
Examples
- Education took center stage during the debate.
- The singer moved to center stage for her solo.
in the center of
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈɛntɚ əv/
fixed phrase
in middle part of something
In the middle area of something.
Examples
- There is a fountain in the center of the park.
- He sat in the center of the room.