Meaning & use

fixate

verb·Academic

To focus one's attention, thoughts, or gaze on something intensely, often to an excessive or unhealthy degree.

See it in a sentence

He fixated on the one negative comment and ignored all the praise in the review.

The kitten fixated on the toy, ignoring everything else happening in the room.

A note on using this word

Fixate is commonly followed by on, as in fixate on a problem, and often implies an unhealthy or unproductive level of focus.

Words with a similar meaning

obsessdwell

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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