hyperalert

adjective

hy·​per·​alert ˌhī-pər-ə-ˈlərt 

variants or hyper-alert

: extremely or excessively alert

Jarrett was exhausted, after weeks on the campaign trail, but hyperalert, watching the wider terrain, observing all comers, while always keeping an eye on Obama.

—Ron Suskind

Symptoms of PTSD can include insomnia, irritability, being hyperalert to danger or feeling on edge.

—Phyllis Furman

hyperalertness noun

or hyper-alertness

Type A people showed the overt behavioral syndrome or style of living characterized by "extremes of competitiveness, striving for achievement, restlessness, hyper-alertness, explosiveness of speech …".

—The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hyperalert

adjective

hy·​per·​alert ˌhī-pər-ə-ˈlərt 

: extremely or excessively alert

Symptoms of PTSD can include insomnia, irritability, being hyperalert to danger or feeling on edge.

—Phyllis Furman, The Daily News (New York)

hyperalertness noun