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Thanks to its role in Freudian theory, "fixate" has a psychological flavor. So does Welt______z, our word borrowed from German meaning "someone's exhausted, sad feeling about the whole world." I hope you don't have this! But can you recall the word?
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"FIXATE"
To fixate on something is to be too attached to it, or to be obsessed with it. In other words, when you're fixated on something, you think about it constantly and always pay too much attention to it.
Pronunciation:
FIX ate
Part of speech:
Intransitive verb.
(Like "sleep," "skydive," and "succeed," all intransitive verbs show complete action on their own and do not do action to an object. You sleep, you skydive, you succeed, and that’s it. You don’t "sleep a bed," "skydive a plane," or "succeed a plan".
Likewise, someone fixates, or someone fixates on something.)
Other forms:
fixated, fixating, fixation
How to use it:
When "obsess" is too casual or when you don't want its youthful, positive overtones, pick "fixate," the more serious synonym that often suggests an unhealthy focus.
Usually you talk about a person (or a group of people) who's fixated on something: she's been fixated on that problem all year; he's fixated on his hair; the public can't help being fixated on his antics; this magazine claims to be about every aspect of life but is actually fixated on food.
examples:
When the publication stopped featuring uplifting or even neutral stories, fixating on depressing ones, reluctantly I unsubscribed. (It used to be so good.)
I often miss what's going on around me in stores and restaurants, fixated as I am on my tiny daughter and helping her navigate.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "fixate" means when you can explain it without saying "preoccupy yourself" or "be totally absorbed in."
try it out:
Think of something you were really, really into when you were younger. Fill in the blanks: "(At a certain age or grade level), I was fixated on _____."
Example: "In ninth grade, I was fixated on dark lipstick, much to my mom's distress."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
This month, we're playing "You Know, That Thing!"
This game challenges your powers of recall. Start a timer: twenty seconds if you're an adult, longer if you're a kid or an English language learner. Read the description of each thing, and come up with its name. Try to name all three before your timer runs out. (Scroll all the way down for the answers.)
Ready? Go!
1. A rotating ball hanging from the ceiling, with mirrored facets to reflect light, is a…
2. The highest achieving student, who typically delivers a speech at graduation, is the…
3. The U.S. military decoration given to those who have been wounded in action is the…
review today's word:
1. The opposite of FIXATE is
A. DESPISE
B. IGNORE
C. PROMOTE
2. The opening scene shows Lane's fixation on his girlfriend, the camera panning over _____.
A. a framed photo of their awkward prom date
B. several letters from her, neatly written, impressively long
C. his bedroom teeming with photos of her, even one on every clothes hanger
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. B
2. C
Answers to game questions:
1. disco ball
2. valedictorian
3. Purple Heart, Purple Heart Award, or Purple Heart Medal
Thanks to its role in Freudian theory, "fixate" has a psychological flavor. So does Welt______z, our word borrowed from German meaning "someone's exhausted, sad feeling about the whole world." I hope you don't have this! But can you recall the word?
"FIXATE" To fixate on something is to be too attached to it, or to be obsessed with it. In other words, when you're fixated on something, you think about it constantly and always pay too much attention to it. Pronunciation: Part of speech:
When the publication stopped featuring uplifting or even neutral stories, fixating on depressing ones, reluctantly I unsubscribed. (It used to be so good.)
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "fixate" means when you can explain it without saying "preoccupy yourself" or "be totally absorbed in."
Think of something you were really, really into when you were younger. Fill in the blanks: "(At a certain age or grade level), I was fixated on _____."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The opposite of FIXATE is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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