1
as in consolidating
to bring (something) to a central point or under a single control
centered administrative duties under the command of a single person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in focusing
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
the students centered their attention on final exams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of centering
The iconic Oscar-winning director returns to his sci-fi roots with this thriller centering on a Kansas City meteorologist (Emily Blunt), a young whistleblower (Josh O'Connor) and a secret that's been covered up for decades and could change everything for everyone.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
His best work came while centering DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on Detroit’s most consistent line, and now the question is whether Copp will reprise that role in 2026-27.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Caufield took Nick Suzuki’s centering pass in the slot and redirected the puck in.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Byfield heaved a backhanded centering pass to the rear post for a redirection by Moore, the Kings’ first goal of the playoffs from someone other than Panarin.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
These were interwoven with chapters set in the present-tense and centering Cleo, the descendent of these immigrants and, like me, a half-white, half-Chinese millennial.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
For fans, jumping to the addition of 12 teams within a year of moving from a four-team playoff seemed like too big of a move in such a short time, with one argument centering on the idea there are not 24 teams talented enough to win a national title.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The musical comedy series, centering on William McKinley High's glee club, was a breakout performance for Criss, who played Blaine Anderson, Dalton Academy's lead singer and eventual love interest to Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer).
—Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
This marked the first extensive footage of Doomsday following brief teasers released in late 2025 and earlier this year focusing on Steve Rogers, Thor and the X-Men, as well as one centering on Shuri and Wakandan friends and The Thing from the Fantastic Four.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
His best work came while centering DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on Detroit’s most consistent line, and now the question is whether Copp will reprise that role in 2026-27.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Caufield took Nick Suzuki’s centering pass in the slot and redirected the puck in.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Byfield heaved a backhanded centering pass to the rear post for a redirection by Moore, the Kings’ first goal of the playoffs from someone other than Panarin.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
These were interwoven with chapters set in the present-tense and centering Cleo, the descendent of these immigrants and, like me, a half-white, half-Chinese millennial.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
For fans, jumping to the addition of 12 teams within a year of moving from a four-team playoff seemed like too big of a move in such a short time, with one argument centering on the idea there are not 24 teams talented enough to win a national title.
—Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The musical comedy series, centering on William McKinley High's glee club, was a breakout performance for Criss, who played Blaine Anderson, Dalton Academy's lead singer and eventual love interest to Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer).
—Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
This marked the first extensive footage of Doomsday following brief teasers released in late 2025 and earlier this year focusing on Steve Rogers, Thor and the X-Men, as well as one centering on Shuri and Wakandan friends and The Thing from the Fantastic Four.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centering
Verb
-
Consider consolidation or refinancing If your credit profile still allows it, consolidating your debt into a lower-rate loan could reduce your monthly payment burden.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Nico Ali Walsh, a professional boxer and the grandson of Muhammad Ali, contends consolidating power in combat sports would strip fighters of their right to choose where to fight, when to fight and cap their earning potential.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The top of the Giants’ order welcomed an addition of sorts, as outfielder Shamar Wilson, a Loras recruit, returned to the team after focusing on track as a junior.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The possibility of placing a bond on the ballot is far from a certainty — trustees did not discuss placing a bond on the November ballot in depth Thursday night, instead focusing on equity issues that could come up through the consolidation process.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Red-hot demand for server products has lured memory suppliers into concentrating on the high-speed processors for those machines.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Enrichment involves concentrating the uranium 235.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By integrating airborne launch platforms with FPV strike drones, the military is evaluating whether layered drone deployment can improve speed, flexibility, and survivability in contested environments.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Uber then spent months integrating Expedia’s technology into its own app.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Leaders of the city’s political left credited Patel with uniting community groups and labor unions by fostering deep personal relationships.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The University of Massachusetts poll, fielded among 1,000 Americans, found 74% believe there are more things uniting them than dividing them.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gambling addiction is a serious public health issue that prediction markets intensify by merging the addictive feedback loops of social media with casino-style wagering.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
For Nasar, her design ethos is merging form and function.—
Maddie Topliff,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Connecticut turkey hunting typically costs $47, combining a $19 turkey permit with the mandatory $28 resident game bird conservation stamp, according to DEEP.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
-
London has carved out a global reputation for fintech, combining regulatory sophistication with access to capital, talent and a dense network of financial institutions.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centering. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
