WordGarden.iocenter
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɛntə/
US
- /ˈsɛntər/
Meanings
Noun
the middle point or area of something
a place or organization for a particular activity or service
the main focus or most important part of something
More meaningsFewer meanings
a player or position in the middle of a team formation
a moderate political position between left and right
Verb
to put or align something in the middle
to have something as the main focus
Beyond the definition
The center of something is its most vital part, the middle point, or the place where everything connects. Think of a city center—that's where all the action happens! Or the center of a flower, which serves as the heart of its beauty. You can find yourself at the center of attention, where every eye is on you, or navigate to the center of a maze to reach the goal.
The word doesn't just describe a physical location, though. It also touches on your core beliefs—what truly matters at the center of your heart. In physical activities, an athlete needs to keep their center of gravity stable to stay balanced, much like a well-rounded life requires finding your center—a sense of inner peace.
The word "center" carries many layers of meaning, but at its heart, it refers to a focal point—physically, figuratively, or conceptually. Physically, the center is the exact middle of an object or space: "The town square is in the center of the village," or "She sat in the center seat." It is the point equidistant from all sides or edges.
Figuratively, "center" represents the most important or foundational element of a situation. For instance, saying "Family is at the center of her life" means family is her top priority. Similarly, "The debate centered on climate change" indicates that the environment was the primary topic of discussion.
"Center" also describes a specific role, position, or facility. A basketball center is a pivotal player on the team, while a community center or a crisis center can provide a vital hub for people in need. You can also be at the center of attention, meaning you are the singular focus of everyone's gaze.
Beyond these tangible uses, "center" refers to emotional stability and balance. Finding your center means achieving a state of calm and grounding yourself amidst chaos. It suggests a sense of equilibrium and internal control. Whether it's a geographical location, a focal point of importance, a specific role, or an internal state of being, the word "center" always points toward something essential, pivotal, and foundational.
Examples
- 1
Physical location
There was a fountain in the center of the square.
- 2
Exact middle
Her arrow hit the target dead center.
- Phrasedead center
exactly in the middle
- 3
Town area
We met at a cafe near the center of town.
- 4
Community place
The kids go to the community center after school.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Social attention
She hates being the center of attention.
- Phrasethe center of attention
the person everyone is noticing
- 6
Campaign focus
Education is now at the center of the campaign.
- 7
Discussion topic
The discussion soon centered on how to cut costs.
- Patterncenter on + topic
mainly be about that topic
- 8
Page layout
Can you center the title on the page?
- 9
Basketball position
She plays center for the school basketball team.
See also
Forms and spellings
8 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- centerAmericannounverbadjective
Forms
- centersAmericanpluralnounverbadjective
- centeredAmericanpast tenseverbnounadjective
- centeringAmerican-ing formverbnounadjective
Spelling variants
- centreBritishnounverbadjective
- centresBritishnounverbadjective
- centredBritishpast tenseverbnounadjective
- centringBritish-ing formverbnounadjective