fixate

verb

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fix·ate | \ ˈfik-ˌsāt

fixated; fixating

Definition of fixate

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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 Fans began to worry — and the media began to fixate — when Spears started to display unusual behavior, which dovetailed with a custody battle with now-ex-husband Federline. — Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "Everything you need to know about why Britney Spears is back in the news," 10 Feb. 2021 Most riffs on the ancient Greek myths fixate on grandiosity: the gleam and power of Zeus and his extended family. — Simon Parkin, The New Yorker, "The Best Video Games of 2020," 18 Dec. 2020 During a winter North American tour a few weeks later, Aalegra made the usual promotional visits to radio stations, but the team tried not to fixate on airplay stats. — Heran Mamo, Billboard, "Inside Snoh Aalegra's Long, Strange Trip to an R&B No. 1," 17 Dec. 2020 The many subcultures whose complaints buoy the larger, nebulous cancel culture tend to fixate on minutiae, which can distract from attempts to achieve broader change. — New York Times, "The Long and Tortured History of Cancel Culture," 3 Dec. 2020 Well, this week, users found a new subject to fixate on: election analysts. — Giulia Heyward And Saba Hamedy, CNN, "TikTok is swooning over a new kind of celebrity: election analysts," 6 Nov. 2020 During an important stretch of her senior year, Frisco Lebanon Trail’s Tyrah Ariail has tried not to fixate on the what-ifs. — Callie Caplan, Dallas News, "Lifelong dreams, meet questions and nerves: Welcome to national signing days in NCAA’s coronavirus era," 10 Nov. 2020 To be clear, there is no need to or fixate upon this mistake. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, "Should I tell my employer about my reckless driving charge? Ask HR," 10 Nov. 2020 If family gatherings are driving the spike in large part, Melvin said Northam should fixate on that instead of restricting businesses. — Tyler Arnold, Washington Examiner, "More coronavirus restrictions in southwest Virginia would hurt restaurants, hotels," 30 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fixate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

27 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fixate. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for fixate

fixate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fixate

: to look at or think about something constantly : to give all of your attention to something

See the full definition for fixate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fixate

verb

fix·ate | \ ˈfik-ˌsāt

fixated; fixating

Medical Definition of fixate

transitive verb

1 : to focus one's gaze on

2 : to direct (the libido) toward an infantile form of gratification

intransitive verb

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

2 : to undergo arrestment at a stage of development