fixated; fixating
1
: to make fixed, stationary, or unchanging
2
: to focus one's gaze on
3
: to direct (the libido) toward an infantile form of gratification
1
: to focus or concentrate one's gaze or attention intently or obsessively
2
: to undergo arrestment at a stage of development
Examples of fixate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The plaintiffs argued that the city violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment when commissioners fixated on preserving the ethnic makeup of the commission by using racial quotas to draw the voting map, packing Hispanic and Black voters into districts.
—
Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Emotions took over as everyone fixated on the ring in the sky.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Edwards, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer about a year and a half ago, is not fixated on her illness but is excited to embark on an ultimate road trip.
—Robin Keats, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Such patients tend to fixate on the shortcomings of these lenses despite their potential advantages.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
While much of the world is fixated on whatever is happening with the royals in the United Kingdom right now, two British legends came to Washington to receive one of America’s highest cultural honors.
—Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Amateurs may become discouraged or lose focus when faced with setbacks or obstacles because they are solely fixated on the end goal rather than the process of improvement and adaptation.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
At its core lies a fundamental reevaluation by corporations, increasingly fixated on maximizing efficiency.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 24 Mar. 2024
President Biden has fixated on high housing costs in recent weeks, wary that Americans’ struggles to make rent or buy a home are weighing on the nation’s economic optimism.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Emotions took over as everyone fixated on the ring in the sky.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Edwards, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer about a year and a half ago, is not fixated on her illness but is excited to embark on an ultimate road trip.
—Robin Keats, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Such patients tend to fixate on the shortcomings of these lenses despite their potential advantages.
—Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
While much of the world is fixated on whatever is happening with the royals in the United Kingdom right now, two British legends came to Washington to receive one of America’s highest cultural honors.
—Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Amateurs may become discouraged or lose focus when faced with setbacks or obstacles because they are solely fixated on the end goal rather than the process of improvement and adaptation.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
At its core lies a fundamental reevaluation by corporations, increasingly fixated on maximizing efficiency.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 24 Mar. 2024
President Biden has fixated on high housing costs in recent weeks, wary that Americans’ struggles to make rent or buy a home are weighing on the nation’s economic optimism.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fixate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fixate
Cite this Entry
“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fixate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fixate
verb
fix·ate
ˈfik-ˌsāt 
fixated; fixating
1
: to focus one's gaze on
2
: to direct (the libido) toward an infantile form of gratification
1
: to focus or concentrate one's gaze or attention
an infant with normal vision … will fixate on a light held before him—Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Association2
: to undergo arrestment at a stage of development
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