# hyper

/ˈhaɪpɝ/ (US) · /hˈaɪpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hyper
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. very energetic

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

having too much energy and unable to sit still or relax.

For teachers: exhibiting excessive energy, excitement, or nervousness; often used as a clipping of 'hyperactive'.

- The kids were totally hyper after eating all that birthday cake.
- The puppy becomes incredibly hyper whenever a guest arrives, racing around the living room until he eventually exhausts himself.

### 2. photography process

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to treat film so it can take better pictures of stars and space.

For teachers: to subject a film or plate to hypersensitization to increase its speed for low-light conditions.

- He learned how to hyper his film to get clearer shots of the night sky.
- Astrophotographers often hyper their film using a mixture of gases to capture the faint light of distant nebulae during long exposures.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically 'film' or 'plate'.

## Examples

- The kids are always hyper after eating sugary snacks.
- I drank three cups of coffee this morning and now I feel completely hyper.
- The puppy becomes incredibly hyper whenever guests arrive, racing around the living room until it eventually collapses from exhaustion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.