ENGLISH
REFERENCE

concentrate

v. · n.
US //ˈkɑnsənˌtɹeɪt// UK //kˈɒnsəntɹˌeɪt// con·cen·trate
  1. 1 to focus attention (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to give all your attention to the thing you are doing.

    to direct one's mental powers or efforts towards a particular activity or problem. Intransitive when used with the preposition 'on'.

    Example

    It is hard to concentrate on your work when there is loud music playing.

    Example

    The student found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the lecture as the construction noise outside grew more intrusive.
    Pitfall
    I need to concentrate in my homework.
    I need to concentrate on my homework.

    In English, you concentrate 'on' something, not 'in' it.

  2. 2 to gather together (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to bring things together into one place or group.

    to bring together or collect into a common centre or focus. Transitive and often used in passive constructions.

    Example

    The company decided to concentrate its offices in the city centre.

    Example

    The troops were ordered to concentrate their forces along the northern border in anticipation of the seasonal migration.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to make a liquid stronger (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    to make a liquid stronger by removing water or other parts.

    to increase the concentration of a substance in a mixture, typically by removing a solvent such as water.

    Example

    You can concentrate the sauce by boiling it for a few more minutes.

    Example

    The chemist used a vacuum evaporator to concentrate the solution without damaging the heat-sensitive proteins.
  2. 4 a condensed substance (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a substance that has been made stronger by removing water.

    a substance or solution that has been made more potent by the removal of a diluting agent.

    Example

    This orange juice is made from concentrate, so you need to add water.

    Example

    The laboratory received a shipment of high-purity concentrate that required careful handling before it could be safely diluted for testing.
Etymology 1

(early 17th century) From a Romance language, see French concentrer, Italian concentràre, Spanish concentrar; alternatively from Medieval Latin/New Latin concentrō + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare also earlier concentre and German konzentrieren. By surface analysis, con- + center (centr- in compounds) + -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Etymology 2

From Medieval Latin/New Latin concentrātus, perfect passive participle of concentrō (“concentate”). See Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.

Etymology 3

From a substantivation of the above adjective. See also -ate (noun-forming suffix). Compare French concentré and German Konzentrat.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference