addicted

American

[uh-dik-tid] / əˈdɪk tɪd /

adjective

compulsively committed or helplessly drawn to a practice or habit or to something psychologically or physically habit-forming (often used in combination).

an intensive program for opioid-addicted physicians.

Sensitive Note

See addict.

Other Word Forms

addictedness noun
nonaddicted adjective
unaddicted adjective
well-addicted adjective

Etymology

Origin of addicted

First recorded in 1550–60; addict + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In a California case, lawyers argued that Instagram and YouTube designed features meant to get their client, a young woman identified as KGM, addicted to social media, including infinite scroll, autoplay, and incessant notifications.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

People spend a lot of time scrolling through videos on social media, addicted to their phones instead of interacting with their friends and family.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Beginning with its first episode, I was addicted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Growing up, Lydia was a typical "dog-mad child" and has been "addicted" ever since, she said.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Mackenzie is currently addicted to a video game that she won’t stop playing until she beats it, forty or fifty game-hours from now.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023