as in to gaze
to look at or think about something constantly; to give all of your attention to something
—usually + on or upon
The cat was fixated on a small hole in the wall. Why do journalists fixate on scandals?
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fixate
Players instructed to fixate on the front of the rim before shooting improved their accuracy significantly more than players taught how to improve their arm mechanics.
—
Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
In August 2024, while the technology world fixated on billion-dollar AI startups, something quieter but potentially more consequential was happening in American education.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Onlookers tend to fixate on starting lineups.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The piano plays mostly arpeggios; the strings fixate for hundreds of bars on a pair of hazy four-note chords.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fixate
Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
In August 2024, while the technology world fixated on billion-dollar AI startups, something quieter but potentially more consequential was happening in American education.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Onlookers tend to fixate on starting lineups.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The piano plays mostly arpeggios; the strings fixate for hundreds of bars on a pair of hazy four-note chords.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fixate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixate
Verb
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Images of Robbie in looks from archival John Galliano to custom Dilara Findikoglu, often gazing up at co-star Jacob Elordi, himself in custom Bottega Veneta, have been crowding our social feeds for weeks, well ahead of the film’s February 13 release.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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The façade was pure marketing, with Schubert and Mozart gazing down on an arched display window that gave views into the rotunda.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Stevenson was forced to walk over to him, so that the two could perform the next part of the ritual and stare at each other, eye to eye.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And a whole constellation of local institutions and community groups is eyeing the three-story brick headhouse for office space.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Her status as a billionaire entrusted with spending down a billionaire’s fortune, and now a victorious Super Bowl winner eyeing a near-immediate exit from the field, makes her one of the most unusual figures in American sports.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If the opportunity to sell Romero arises in the summer, Spurs should seriously consider cutting their losses and reinvesting the money in a more reliable defender.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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While that is the standard that would be considered in a civil case, local investigators are also looking into whether any state laws were violated.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
John Voorhies, a Tucsonian of sixty-two years, was standing in front of Guthrie’s home, watching the activity.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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Neither Nielsen nor NBCUniversal is offering a breakdown of how the audience shook out between NBC and Peacock, though clearly the vast majority of those viewers watched on the broadcast network.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bystanders gawk and cheer from the sidewalks.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The town has become a popular destination for people who want to gawk at the extraordinary creatures.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His family might never know all the details, but Bouzid gives the audience tangible knowledge of his passions and misgivings, accomplishing that by observing the five female characters in his orbit, and so the mystery of all their lives is fully revealed.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Supporters of the prosecution contend Lemon was not merely observing but actively participating in conduct that disrupted worshippers.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It’s regarded as his greatest song ever, containing his favorite themes of violence, mortality, regret, and above all, loneliness, against the backdrop of the American wilderness.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
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The agency has not specified if the suspension of the police powers of Blanchette and Leslie are due to violations of its policies regarding pursuits and forcibly ending them.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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