hyperactive
Americanadjective
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unusually or abnormally active.
a company's hyperactive growth; the child's hyperactive imagination.
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(of children) displaying exaggerated physical activity sometimes associated with neurologic or psychologic causes.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hyperactive
Explanation
Anything hyperactive is doing more than it should — a hyperactive child bounces off the walls, and a hyperactive gland secretes too much and makes you feel bad. It's good to be active, but add hyper and it’s not so good anymore. Hyper comes from a Greek word for “too much.” If someone is hyperactive, she might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). People who suffer from it are hyperactive and can’t concentrate. You could say they’re hyper, which is short for hyperactive, but that’s not very polite. Hyperactive glands produce too many hormones and throw the body out of whack. Hyperactive things need to settle down.
Vocabulary lists containing hyperactive
Just Do It: Act
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Selections Vocabulary 1, Unit 3
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act (do)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A hyperactive psychopath, Skarsgård’s Little John is one of the movie’s rare treats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
The 27-year-old is tipped for a top three finish with Ferto, a hyperactive dance anthem that smashes together rave synths, video game sound effects and traditional Greek instruments like the lyra.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
The concert leaned heavily on the band's new album Arirang, which folds the melody and mythology of Korea's folk music into the band's hyperactive, experimental pop sound.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
When the label was unsure what to do with the hyperactive adolescent then known as “Little Stevie Wonder.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp...It’s like hyperactive twittering of mechanical chicks.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
