fixate

verb

fix·​ate ˈfik-ˌsāt How to pronounce fixate (audio)
fixated; fixating

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the second consecutive week, the world of golf fixated on a sudden-death playoff between two players starved for a victory. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025 The narrative surrounding artificial intelligence often fixates on its capacity to amplify efficiency and effectiveness. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 The Vultures artist has been fixated on Lamar for months now, which is a major flip from his energy one year ago. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Apr. 2025 There’s something striking about how Black Mirror, which primarily fixates on near-futuristic tech conceits as a lens through which to unpack human anxieties, has effectively spanned the length of our collective curdling relationship with technology. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fixate

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from fixation, in part as translation of German fixieren

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fixate was in 1885

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fixate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

fixate

verb
fix·​ate ˈfik-ˌsāt How to pronounce fixate (audio)
fixated; fixating

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 himThe Journal of the American Medical Association
2
: to undergo arrestment at a stage of development

More from Merriam-Webster on fixate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!