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hyperactive
adjective
hy·per·ac·tive
ˌhī-pər-ˈak-tiv
1
: affected with or exhibiting hyperactivity
broadly
: more active than is usual or desirable
2
: intricately or elaborately designed or detailed
hyperactive
noun
Synonyms
Examples of hyperactive in a Sentence
the skyrocketing price of oil resulted in a wildly fluctuating, hyperactive stock market
hyperactive children who are in dire need of a guardian with a firm hand
Recent Examples on the Web
Throughout the night, Keoghan is a hyperactive presence, at one point asking an event worker to take a photo of him and Paul Mescal on his phone while Saoirse Ronan waits close by.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Every line and every stop set my hyperactive sixth-grade mind afire, but none more than the boxed lunch entry.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 23 July 2024
Soon enough, the school's overrun with hyperactive kiddos bouncing off the walls, and the teachers have to devise a plan to burn off this sugar buzz while tracking down the sticky-fingered culprit running loose in their halls.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
This is particularly true of females with the disorder, whose behavior as children tends to be more inattentive than hyperactive like the stereotypical boy with ADHD.
—Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near hyperactive
Cite this Entry
“Hyperactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperactive. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
hyperactive
adjective
hy·per·ac·tive
ˌhī-pər-ˈak-tiv
: very active especially to an abnormal amount
hyperactivity
noun
-ak-ˈtiv-ət-ē
Medical Definition
hyperactive
1 of 2 adjective
hy·per·ac·tive
ˌhī-pə-ˈrak-tiv
: affected with or exhibiting hyperactivity
Scientists suspect in certain genetically susceptible people, the immune cells remain hyperactive long after the infectious agent has been cleared from the body.—Kathy Fackelmann, Science News
A growing number of parents suspect that the powerful stimulant Ritalin—long prescribed for its paradoxically tranquilizing effect on hyperactive children—has become a convenience for teachers seeking quiet classrooms …—David Gates. Newsweek
broadly
: more active than is usual or desirable
hyperactive
2 of 2 noun
: an individual who is hyperactive
More from Merriam-Webster on hyperactive
Nglish: Translation of hyperactive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hyperactive for Arabic Speakers
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