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Meaning & use

hyper

adjective·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˈhaɪpə/
US/ˈhaɪpɚ/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Full of restless, excited energy and unable to settle down or stay calm.

    Grammar: Used after a verb or before a noun: the kids are hyper, a hyper puppy.

    Patterns

    • get hyper
    • be hyper about something

    The children got hyper after eating cake at the party.

    My dog is always hyper when visitors arrive.

    Don't give him too much coffee, or he'll go hyper.

  2. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Extremely anxious or tense, often about something small, in a way that others find tiring.

    Grammar: Often followed by about: she is hyper about deadlines.

    Patterns

    • be hyper about something

    She gets hyper about being on time.

    He was hyper before the exam and kept pacing the corridor.

    Try not to be so hyper about every tiny mistake.

Word forms

comparativemore hyper
superlativemost hyper

Common combinations

get hyper
The twins get hyper whenever they have sugar.
go hyper
He went hyper at the news of the surprise trip.
a hyper child
A hyper child may find it hard to sit through a long meal.
totally hyper
The puppy was totally hyper after its walk was cancelled.
hyper about
She is hyper about keeping everything tidy.

Synonyms and how they differ

hyperactive
Hyperactive is the fuller word and can describe a medical condition, whereas hyper is casual and usually describes a passing mood.
wired
Wired suggests being energized and alert, often from caffeine or stress, while hyper puts more emphasis on bouncing, restless excitement.
overexcited
Overexcited is more neutral and polite, and it describes the cause (too much excitement) rather than the restless behavior itself.
jittery
Jittery stresses nervous shakiness, whereas hyper can be happy and energetic with no fear at all.

Opposites

calmlethargicrelaxed

Word family

hyperactive adjective
unusually active, sometimes as part of a medical condition
hyperactivity noun
abnormally high levels of activity
hyperactively adverb
in a very active, restless way

Commonly confused: hyper or hyper-? hyper or hype?

hyper vs hyper-

The prefix hyper- (as in hypertension) means over or excessive; the word hyper on its own is a casual adjective about excitement.

hyper vs hype

Hype is noun or verb meaning exaggerated publicity, not a state of energy, although someone can be hyped up.

Practice

After three cups of coffee and a big presentation, Dan felt wired and restless. His friend said he was acting ___.

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