hyper

[ hahy-per ]

See synonyms for hyper on Thesaurus.com

adjective

overexcited; overstimulated; keyed up.
seriously or obsessively concerned; fanatical; rabid: She's hyper about noise pollution.

hyperactive.

noun

a person who is hyper.

Origin of hyper

First recorded in 1970–75; probably independent use of hyper-

Other definitions for hyper (2 of 3)

hyper²

[ hahy-per ]

nounInformal.

a person who promotes or publicizes events, people, etc., especially one who uses flamboyant or questionable methods; promoter; publicist.

Origin of hyper

1910–15, Americanism, for an earlier sense; hype¹ + -er¹

Other definitions for hyper- (3 of 3)

hyper-

a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “over,” usually implying excess or exaggeration (hyperbole); on this model used, especially as opposed to hypo-, in the formation of compound words (hyperthyroid).

Origin of hyper-

Greek, representing hypér over, above; cognate with Latin super (see super-); akin to over

Compare super-.

Words that may be confused with hyper-

hyper- , hypo-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hyper in a sentence

Boys are taught early in life to devalue care, to be hyper-competitive, super-achieving men.
How Good Dads Can Change the World | Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
She was born into a patriarchy and an industry that hyper-sexualizes women all the time.
Revenge of the Rock Nerds: TV on the Radio’s Long Road to ‘Seeds’ | Marlow Stern | December 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But the reality is that in our 24-7 hyper-connected world, powering down often requires powering up.
Parks and Regeneration | The Daily Beast | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Jane was raised in a matriarchal family by her hyper-religious grandma and young, aspiring singer single mother.
‘Jane the Virgin’ Is The CW’s Best Show Ever | Amy Zimmerman | October 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But this patient was a doctor who had been treating people with Ebola in a facility awash with hyper-infective fluids.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways | Michael Daly | October 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

This delight was at one time somewhat disturbed by his hyper-sensitiveness.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
The two highest of these keys—the hyper-lydian and the hyper-aeolian—appear to have been added in the time of the Empire.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music | David Binning Monro
This report—exploited in five-column head-lines by a hyper-hysterical paper of that period received wide attention.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete | Albert Bigelow Paine
I trust that if we can ensure an atmosphere hyper-oxygenated to a certain point, we may be able to retain our senses.
The Poison Belt | Arthur Conan Doyle
He had fought a short but furious ship-action, battering the invader until he was glad to hyper out.
Space Viking | Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for hyper (1 of 2)

hyper

/ (ˈhaɪpə) /

adjective

informal overactive; overexcited

Origin of hyper

C20: probably independent use of hyper-

British Dictionary definitions for hyper- (2 of 2)

hyper-

prefix

above, over, or in excess: hypercritical
(in medicine) denoting an abnormal excess: hyperacidity

indicating that a chemical compound contains a greater than usual amount of an element: hyperoxide

Origin of hyper-

from Greek huper over

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for hyper-

hyper-

A prefix that means excessive or excessively, especially in medical terms like hypertension and hyperthyroidism.

Browse