fixate

[ fik-seyt ]

verb (used without object)

, fix·at·ed, fix·at·ing.

1. to obsessively concentrate one's attention (usually followed by on ):

   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.

verb (used with object)

, fix·at·ed, fix·at·ing.

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fixate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fixate¹

C19: from Latin fixus fixed + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Maybe that the viewer choosing to fixate on this detail isn’t the intended audience.

From Washington Post

Instead of hailing the many ways tech is changing our lives, these critics say journalists fixate on negative stories, pursuing hit pieces and takedowns that serve their own agenda.

From Fortune

It’s difficult to find relief from stressors if your mind is constantly fixating on and recirculating harmful thoughts about them.

From Popular-Science

Rather than fixating on the details, it’s better to take a step back to look for broader patterns in the literature.

From Outside Online

His daughter Robyn Sweet described him as a self-employed handyman in his late 50s who lives in rural Virginia and became increasingly fixated with conspiracy theories after Barack Obama was elected president.

From Washington Post

You can fixate your brain on "Potent Potables" for five progressively harder questions, then on "Kings of England" for five more.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps it takes a motivation of that kind for a man to fixate on something the way Scannon does.

From The Daily Beast

I kept hoping that if I ignored him, he would get bored and fixate on someone else, like his fiancée.

From The Daily Beast

As we know, Democrats and Republicans fixate on different polls.

From The Daily Beast

In slower news cycles, we fixate on the playoffs or Oscar nominees.

From The Daily Beast

Existences that are especially set aside to fixate and convey meanings are signs or symbols.

From Project Gutenberg

The more we fixate it, the more its clearness and distinctness increase.

From Project Gutenberg

From here we see the perspective to the fantastic dreams which the camera can fixate.

From Project Gutenberg

These apparently are accounted for by involuntary eye-movements which take place regardless of the effort made to fixate vision.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• haunt
• infatuate
• obsess