obsess

[ uhb-ses ]
See synonyms for: obsessobsessedobsessing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally: Suspicion obsessed him.

verb (used without object)
  1. to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

Origin of obsess

1
1495–1505; <Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equivalent to ob-ob- + -sid(ēre) combining form of sedēre to sit1

Other words for obsess

Other words from obsess

  • ob·sess·ing·ly, adverb
  • ob·ses·sor, noun

Words that may be confused with obsess

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How to use obsess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obsess

obsess

/ (əbˈsɛs) /


verb
  1. (tr; when passive, foll by with or by) to preoccupy completely; haunt

  2. (intr; usually foll by on or over) to worry neurotically or obsessively; brood

Origin of obsess

1
C16: from Latin obsessus besieged, past participle of obsidēre, from ob- in front of + sedēre to sit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012