Phrasal verb
center on
Definition
phrasal verb. to have something as the main subject or most important part.
phrasal verb. to have a particular subject or person as the primary focus or central theme. Transitive; the object represents the focal point of the discussion or activity.
Examples
“The discussion centers on the new budget.”
“Most of the complaints from the residents center on the lack of parking in the city center.”
“The upcoming summit will center on the geopolitical implications of renewable energy transitions in developing nations.”
Examples
simple
“The discussion centers on the new budget.”
contextual
“Most of the complaints from the residents center on the lack of parking in the city center.”
complex
“The upcoming summit will center on the geopolitical implications of renewable energy transitions in developing nations.”
Usage
often used in the passive voice or with abstract subjects like 'debate', 'story', or 'research'.
Teaching tip
note the spelling difference between American 'center on' and British 'centre on'; also, mention that 'center around' is common in speech but often criticized in formal writing.
Pitfall
The story centers in a young boy.
The story centers on a young boy.
the verb 'center' requires the preposition 'on' or 'around' to indicate the focus, not 'in'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
center + on + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/center-on