English Reference

Word

center

Phoneticscen·ter, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈsɛnɝ/

UK/sˈɛntɐ/

UK spelling · centre

Definitions

01middle point

A1 · Beginner Countable noun American English

n. the middle part or point of something, far from the edges.

n. the middle portion of an object or area; the point equidistant from the boundaries or edges.

“The teacher told the children to sit in the center of the rug.”

“The researchers placed the sample in the exact center of the chamber to ensure the heat was distributed evenly across its surface.”

02functional building

A2 · Elementary Countable noun American English

n. a building or place used for a particular activity or service.

n. a facility or complex dedicated to a specific function, service, or social activity.

“The new community center has a swimming pool and a library.”

“The city council approved funding for a high-tech medical center that will specialize in advanced cardiac surgery and rehabilitation.”

03sports player

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports American English

n. a player who plays in the middle of the field or court.

n. a player positioned in the middle of the playing area, often serving as a pivot or defensive anchor.

“The center passed the ball to the player waiting near the basket.”

“The team's success this season is largely due to their center, whose height and agility dominate the middle of the court.”

04politics

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Politics American English

n. a political group that is not extreme and has moderate ideas.

n. the moderate or centrist portion of the political spectrum, avoiding extreme left-wing or right-wing positions.

“The candidate tried to appeal to the center to win more votes.”

“The coalition government struggled to maintain its grip on the political center as radical parties gained popularity during the economic crisis.”

Synonyms

middle groundmoderates

05to place in the middle

B1 · Intermediate American English

v. to move something so it is in the middle of an area.

v. to position an object so that its midpoint coincides with the midpoint of another area or axis.

“You should center the title on the page so it looks professional.”

“The graphic designer carefully centered the logo within the header to maintain the visual balance of the website's landing page.”

Synonyms

06to focus on

B2 · Upper Intermediate American English

v. to have something as the main subject or interest.

v. to concentrate or revolve around a specific theme, person, or idea.

“The discussion centered on how to save money for the trip.”

“The debate centered on the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in judicial decision-making processes.”

07located in the middle

B1 · Intermediate American English

adj. being in the middle of something.

adj. situated at or related to the center; often used to describe a specific part or position.

“Please use the center aisle to walk to the front of the room.”

“The architect designed the building with a center courtyard to allow natural light to reach the interior offices.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage

Commonly used with 'of' to indicate the middle of an area or object.

Pitfall

The center of the city is very crowded. (in British English)

The centre of the city is very crowded.

'Center' is the standard American spelling, while 'centre' is used in British English and most other varieties.

Confusables

center vs centre

Centre is the standard spelling in British English, while center is the standard spelling in American English.

RememberBritish English uses -re; American English uses -er.

Word family

NOUN

Idioms

Domains

ArchitectureEngineeringPoliticsSports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · Beginner
Updated

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English Reference