English Reference
Adjective

hyperactive

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌhaɪpɝˈæktɪv/ UK /hˌaɪpəɹˈæktɪv/ hy·per·ac·tive

adj.describing someone who is extremely active and has a lot of energy. It is often used to talk about children who find it hard to sit still or focus.

adj.characterised by an abnormally high level of physical or mental activity. Often used to describe children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or to describe a person's current state of restlessness.


SIMPLE

The hyperactive child could not sit still during the movie.

CONTEXTUAL

After drinking three cups of coffee, he became hyperactive and started pacing the room.

COMPLEX

The hyperactive economy of the late nineties saw a massive influx of venture capital into the tech sector, eventually leading to a speculative bubble.

It was a Friday afternoon, and her husband had gone outside to make a phone call – concerned about his wife’s “hyperactive” speech.

The Guardian· 4 Sept 2026

From hyper- + active.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated