maintain focused attention

verb phrase

1. To keep concentrating on one thing over a period of time, without letting your mind wander or be distracted.

   B2

   transitive; followed by "on" + object (e.g. "on the task"); often used in academic, psychological and workplace contextsformal

   • "It is hard to maintain focused attention when you are tired."B1
   • "The noise made it difficult to maintain focused attention on the lecture."B2
   • "The exercise helps children maintain focused attention on a single task."B2
   • "Meditation is said to help people maintain focused attention for longer periods."C1

2. In psychology and education, the mental ability to sustain concentration on a task or stimulus while ignoring competing distractions.

   C1

   uncountable when used as a noun phrase ("the maintenance of focused attention")technical

   • "Children's ability to maintain focused attention develops gradually."B2
   • "The study measured how long participants could maintain focused attention on a screen."C1