Phrase guide

centre of attention

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something that attracts a lot of attention.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Examples

  • That fellow's new limousine is the centre of attention, as everyone stops to stare at it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the object upon which interest and attention focuses

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his stories made him the center of the party

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: center, centre, center of attention

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: object

Narrower terms: conversation piece, crosshairs, cynosure, eye-catcher

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bengali: মধ্যমণি (moddhomoni) — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Chinese Mandarin: 关注焦点 — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Esperanto: centro de atento — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Finnish: huomion keskipiste — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Indonesian: pusat perhatian — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Polish: centrum uwagi — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Russian: центр внима́ния (centr vnimánija) — something that attracts a lot of attention
  • Spanish: centro de atención — something that attracts a lot of attention