hyperactivity

noun

hy·​per·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty ˌhī-pər-ˌak-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce hyperactivity (audio)
1
: the state or condition of being overly active
Canada geese are disarmingly expressive. … They disdain the frantic hyperactivity of smaller birds.Benjamin B. Bachman
2
: increased levels of function or activity especially when considered abnormally excessive
She had developed delusions of invincibility, along with bouts of hyperactivity and severe insomnia.Per Ola and Emily D'Aulaire
especially : higher than usual levels of movement and activity (such as excessive talking or fidgeting) typically associated with attention deficit disorder
An estimated 1 in 50 school-age children in the United States, receive stimulant medication to help quell inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Christine Mlot

Examples of hyperactivity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That includes the more than 8.7 million U.S. adults who live with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Teva makes Adderall, a treatment for the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder that has experienced shortages. Rachel Cohrs Reprints, STAT, 22 Feb. 2024 Bolles struggled with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pat Graham, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2024 Rigorous research that informed the California ban, including double-blind studies that control for variations in children’s diets, has found an association between various artificial color additives and hyperactivity. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 9 Feb. 2024 The number of adults being diagnosed with ADHD — a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity — is increasing rapidly in the U.S. Angela Roberts, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2024 In 2021, a report from California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found links between several dyes and hyperactivity in children. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023 While some individuals may experience improvements in symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, or hyperactivity, others may not see significant changes. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 Neurocognitive performance instead is tied to medical diagnoses such as anxiety, depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hyperactivity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyperactivity was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near hyperactivity

Cite this Entry

“Hyperactivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperactivity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

hyperactivity

noun
hy·​per·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty ˌhī-pə-ˌrak-ˈtiv-ət-ē How to pronounce hyperactivity (audio)
plural hyperactivities
: a state or condition of being excessively or pathologically active

More from Merriam-Webster on hyperactivity

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