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 notice also paints a picture of a department with a locker-room atmosphere, where Kwong and some of his staff were fixated on the genitalia of patients.
—
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
A couple of months do not necessarily define long-term policy, but clearly the Fed is fixated on its 2 percent target.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
Among Berliner's claims are that NPR is failing to consider other viewpoints and that it is fixated on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
In other cases, Mr. Trump has fixated on the whimsical over the practical.
—Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Specifically, Patel fixated on the hero Hanuman — a legendary Hindu deity with the face of a monkey and the body of a man.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
This Shōgun has many hearts and many points of view, rather than fixating on the simplistic stranger in a strange land story from the Eighties.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
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
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
A couple of months do not necessarily define long-term policy, but clearly the Fed is fixated on its 2 percent target.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
Among Berliner's claims are that NPR is failing to consider other viewpoints and that it is fixated on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
In other cases, Mr. Trump has fixated on the whimsical over the practical.
—Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
Specifically, Patel fixated on the hero Hanuman — a legendary Hindu deity with the face of a monkey and the body of a man.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
This Shōgun has many hearts and many points of view, rather than fixating on the simplistic stranger in a strange land story from the Eighties.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
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
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 26 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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