hyperfocus

1 of 2

noun

hy·​per·​fo·​cus ˌhī-pər-ˈfō-kəs 

: intense prolonged concentration on a subject, activity, goal, etc.

… scaled the corporate world with a hyperfocus on results and impact, seeking out challenging assignments and organizations that prized diversity and meritocracy.

—Jessica Guynn

It can be really enjoyable being in a state of hyperfocus. … However, it can also lead to overwork and work-family conflict.

—Aimee Grant

Hyperfocus can be a great gift if you can hyperfocus on something at work or at home that is a constructive, productive activity. But hyperfocus needs to be managed through self-awareness (catching yourself) and self-management (stopping yourself) when you are hyperfocused on something that interferes with important daily activities at work or at home.

—Judith Kolberg and Kathleen G. Nadeau

also : something (such as a subject, activity, or goal) on which hyperfocus is centered

… my hyperfocus is political advocacy.

—Brian Robinson, quoted at otdowntown.com

hyperfocus

2 of 2

verb

hyperfocused; hyperfocusing; hyperfocuses

intransitive verb

: to concentrate with extreme attention or effort : to direct one's powers, efforts, or attention with great intensity

—usually used with on

Anxiety is a biochemical condition in which the brain … hyperfocuses on a problem.

—Eleska Aubespin

Instead of starting with an assessment of a person's visual appearance, hyperfocusing on every little line and wrinkle, these practitioners use their patients' full medical history to guide treatment.

—Elise Tabin

Going into United Nations climate negotiations, the Brazilian hosts weren't looking for big end-of-session pronouncements on lofty goals. This conference was supposed to hyperfocus on "implementation" of past promises not yet kept.

—Seth Borenstein et al.

Examples of hyperfocus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This might include more focus on autistic experiences of sensory overload and meltdowns, as well as the value and pleasure to be found in hyperfocus and intense interest in particular topics. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2026

Instead, through projects like the ENIAC replica, students can leverage traits many of them share, like the abilities to hyperfocus and to precisely repeat tasks. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026

Verb

Tech leaders often hyperfocus on LinkedIn, missing elite talent on platforms like GitHub or specialized Discord servers. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Before, when Joyce would take Jose to a Minnesota Loons soccer game, the child would hyperfocus on the field, rarely looking up to notice the crowd around him. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

hyper- + focus entry 1

Verb

derivative of hyperfocus entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1983, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1996, in the meaning defined above