hyperactivity

noun

hy·​per·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty ˌhī-pər-ˌak-ˈti-və-tē 

1

: the state or condition of being overly active

Canada geese are disarmingly expressive. … They disdain the frantic hyperactivity of smaller birds.

—Benjamin B. Bachman

2

: increased levels of function or activity especially when considered abnormally excessive

She had developed delusions of invincibility, along with bouts of hyperactivity and severe insomnia.

—Per Ola and Emily D'Aulaire

especially : higher than usual levels of movement and activity (such as excessive talking or fidgeting) typically associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

An estimated 1 in 50 school-age children in the United States, receive stimulant medication to help quell inattentiveness and hyperactivity.

—Christine Mlot

Examples of hyperactivity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the economists hypothesized that medical professionals would be more likely to diagnose them with ADHD because younger kids are more likely than their peers to display symptoms of hyperactivity or inattentiveness. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024

They’re made with high-quality CBD oil extracted from natural hemp plants and manage various health and behavioral issues, like anxiety, pain, inflammation, hyperactivity, and more. —Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024

The side effects of the contaminants might reveal themselves in the body as mineral depletion, heavy metal overload or lethargy (chronic fatigue, leaky gut, hyperactivity, dissociation, anhedonia). —Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

In fact, that's one of the symptoms of ADHD — short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — which is characterized by hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, according to the American Psychiatric Association. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hyperactivity

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Medical Definition

hyperactivity

noun

hy·​per·​ac·​tiv·​i·​ty ˌhī-pə-ˌrak-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

plural hyperactivities

: a state or condition of being excessively or pathologically active

especially : attention deficit hyperactivity disorder