fixate

American  

[fik-sayt] / ˈfɪk seɪt /

verb (used without object)

• fixates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• fixated,
  past participle,  past
• fixating
  present participle

1. to obsessively concentrate one's attention (usually followed byon ).

   Take something away from someone completely and they may fixate on it.

2. Psychoanalysis. to develop a fixation; suffer an arrest in one's emotional or sexual development.

   The patient fixates in an incestuous libido cycle, seeking to reconnect with an earlier aspect of her history.

3. to stabilize or become fixed.

4. to focus the eyes on an object or point.

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verb (used with object)

• fixates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• fixated,
  past participle,  past
• fixating
  present participle

1. to obsessively concentrate one's attention on.

2. Psychoanalysis. to cause (one's psychosexual development) to be arrested at an early point in life.

3. to make stable or stationary; fix.

   Using cement to fixate the cap on the head of the femur, while initially adding stability, has a chance of loosening in subsequent years.

4. 1. to focus (the eyes) on an object or point.

      The eye muscles ordinarily fixate the two eyes on a single target.

   2. to focus the eyes on (an object).

fixate British  

/ ˈfɪkseɪt /

verb

1. to become or cause to become fixed

2. to direct the eye or eyes at a point in space so that the image of the point falls on the centre (fovea) of the eye or eyes

3. psychol to engage in fixation

4. informal (tr; usually passive) to obsess or preoccupy

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• fixating
  present
• fixated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• fixate
  simple
• fixates
  simple
• have fixated
  perfect
• has fixated
  perfect
• am fixating
  progressive
• are fixating
  progressive
• is fixating
  progressive
• have been fixating
  perfect progressive
• has been fixating
  perfect progressive

Past

• fixated
  simple
• had fixated
  perfect
• was fixating
  progressive
• were fixating
  progressive
• had been fixating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will fixate
  simple
• will have fixated
  perfect
• will be fixating
  progressive
• will have been fixating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of fixate

First recorded in 1880–85; from Latin fix(us) “fixed, firm” ( see fix) + -ate ¹

Explanation

If you fixate on something, you become overly focused on it or attached to it. Don't fixate on your grades — try to enjoy the process of learning! While the original 19th century meaning of fixate was "make stable," it soon came to mean "gaze upon." It was Sigmund Freud who shifted the definition to something more obsessive. His theories of psychoanalysis included the concept of fixation, an unhealthy attachment to something or someone — and fixate followed. You can fixate on small things (like a stain on your sweater) or big things (like world poverty).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fixate fixates fixated fixating

As a result, investors shouldn’t solely fixate on the possibility of an AI slowdown.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

But Diarra’s tendency to fixate on small details and slights eventually cracked the case.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

But rather than fixate on that, might we suggest a few reads about all the joys available to us in this world?

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

McGinn himself was in no doubt that he was fouled by Neil El Aynaoui, but insists Scotland cannot fixate on refereeing calls.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

I fixate on the idea of someone calling Dell Duke "Big Boy."

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

As a head coach who fixates on squad togetherness, was there a worry that having such a high-profile player on the margins might lead Alexander-Arnold to provide an unintentional distraction and focus of attention?

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

He fixates on bright, blinding objects while turning away from self-reflection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

Here I'm speaking of those who really embrace white nationalism, which fixates obsessively on Jews in well-documented and terribly dangerous ways.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2023

When a ferocious bully fixates on Chester, he emails his dad for help.

From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2022

She fixates on me, waiting for me to meet her gaze.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Largely because Angels scouting director Bob Fontaine Jr. ignored the potential limitations that others fixated on when evaluating Abbott.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

"In stem cell biology, people are always fixated with creating the end cell type, like the neuron," Jokhai said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

"Sometimes they can get fixated on certain goals and not listen to any adults around them, so that's where I come in and sit them down and talk to them."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Also after the bell, Microsoft reported robust cloud growth and a boost in the number of paid AI subscribers, as investors remain fixated on whether the tech giant’s data-center spending will pay off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

He got himself fixated on big and abstract issues, fueled by some crazy sense that he might be able to do something about them.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Like I said, it’s OK to look back and wish you had done some things differently, but fixating on the past isn’t always helpful.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The content suggested he was watching all of her appearances, fixating on what she was wearing, what she was saying, what she was doing.

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2026

As they’ve done all year, they’re embracing this opportunity for history without fixating on the reward that awaits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2025

Olympian and former Nike athlete who has been critical of the brand, called Kipyegon a “true prodigy,” but thought that fixating on 4 minutes was misguided.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2025

We jump from one of these chunks to another, pausing — or fixating — on them long enough to make sense of each letter.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• haunt
• infatuate
• obsess