hypervigilance

noun

hy·​per·​vig·​i·​lance ˌhī-pər-ˈvi-jə-lən(t)s 

variants or hyper-vigilance

: extreme or excessive vigilance : the state of being highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat

A person suffering from PTSD may have sleep disturbances, irritability, hypervigilance, heightened startle responses and flashbacks of the original trauma.

—Ellen L. Bassuk et al.

One common trait among fearful fliers is hypervigilance; they often spend the entire trip watching the flight attendants, analyzing the chime system, and assessing the sounds of the engines.

—Nancy J. Perry

Examples of hypervigilance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These effects may include shock, fear, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping and a mental replaying of the images. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Symptoms include high anxiety, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, frequent intrusive memories of trauma, nightmares and flashbacks. —Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025

On the flip side, secrecy triggers hypervigilance, where one partner obsessively scans for signs of deception or hidden threats, and naturally so given the suspicious nature of the matter. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Gazans have adapted to chronic danger, living in a state of hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and dissociation amid the slow erasure of any imagined future. —Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypervigilance

• vigilance

Medical Definition

hypervigilance

noun

hy·​per·​vig·​i·​lance -ˈvij-ə-lən(t)s 

: extreme or excessive vigilance : the state of being highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat

A person suffering from PTSD may have … hypervigilance, heightened startle responses and flashbacks

—Ellen L. Bassuk et al.

hypervigilant

-lənt 

adjective