concentration
gb/kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/ us/kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
focused mental attention
When you think very carefully about one thing and ignore other things.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s concentration on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'concentration' with 'concertation' or mistakenly use it to mean 'gathering of people'.
Synonyms
focus (More common in everyday speech; slightly broader meaning.)
Antonyms
distraction (Refers to something that takes attention away, opposite of concentrating.)
Collocations
lose concentration
|maintain concentration
|require concentration
|high level of concentration
Themes
learning
|work
|psychology
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her concentration was broken by the loud noise outside.
- You need a lot of concentration to solve this puzzle.
- He maintained his concentration throughout the entire exam.
- The job requires intense concentration for long periods.
- Meditation helps improve your concentration.
Learner examples
- I need concentration to read this book.
- The noise makes my concentration bad.
- He has good concentration in class.
- This game needs much concentration.
Noun
B2
state
2
dense grouping or collection
Many things or people in one small area.
Usage pattern:
a concentration of [things/people] in [place]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'focus' meaning, but here it refers to physical grouping, not mental attention.
Synonyms
cluster (Usually smaller or more irregular grouping.)
Antonyms
dispersion (Refers to the spreading out over a larger area.)
Collocations
high concentration
|population concentration
|concentration area
Themes
geography
|sociology
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There is a high concentration of tech companies in Silicon Valley.
- The report shows a concentration of wealth in a small group of families.
- The highest concentration of pollution was found near the factory.
- Wildlife conservationists noted a concentration of rare birds in the region.
Learner examples
- There is a big concentration of shops here.
- The city has a high concentration of people.
- We saw a concentration of fish near the rocks.
Noun
technical
B2
quantity
3
amount of substance per volume
How much of something is in a certain space or liquid.
Usage pattern:
the concentration of [substance] in [medium]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'strength' in non-scientific contexts, but here it is a precise measurement.
Synonyms
density (In science, density is related but refers to mass per volume, not proportion of substance.)
Antonyms
dilution (Process or state of making something less concentrated.)
Collocations
high concentration
|low concentration
|concentration level
Themes
science
|chemistry
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The salt concentration in seawater is about 3.5%.
- Scientists measured the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- This medication has a high concentration of active ingredients.
Learner examples
- The water has a high salt concentration.
- We test the sugar concentration in juice.
- The air has low oxygen concentration.
Grammar
Dictionary form
concentration
IPA
GB/kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
US/kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - cen - tra - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tra)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: concentration
- Plural: concentration, concentrations
Word family
Forms
concentrations
noun
Core family
concentrate
verb A2
concentrated
adjective B2
Expressions
break someone's concentration
1/bɹˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌnz kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
interrupt focused attention
To make someone stop focusing on what they are doing.
Examples
- The noise from outside broke my concentration.
- Don't break her concentration while she's studying.
lose concentration
1/lˈuz kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
stop focusing attention
To stop thinking carefully about something you are doing.
Examples
- She lost concentration after her phone rang.
- If you lose concentration while driving, it can be dangerous.
maintain concentration
1/meɪntˈeɪn kˌɔnsəntɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
keep focusing attention
To continue thinking carefully about something without being distracted.
Examples
- It's difficult to maintain concentration during long meetings.
- Athletes train to maintain concentration under pressure.