obsess

American  

[uhb-ses] / əbˈsɛs /

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.

   Synonyms:

   haunt, control, possess

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verb (used without object)

1. to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

obsess British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• obsessingly adverb
• obsessor noun

Etymology

Origin of obsess

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

Example Sentences

Soul, at the time, like many 8-year-olds, had also become obsessed with becoming a YouTuber.

From Los Angeles Times

Stolz was obsessed with the 500, believing that would be his ticket to Olympic glory.

From The Wall Street Journal

The only thing standing in their way is the opponent that Team USA has spent a year obsessing over: Canada, the sport’s ultimate powerhouse and the Americans’ fiercest rival.

From The Wall Street Journal

Is it hard or easy for you to tune out — By the way, the women at school are lovely and I’m obsessed with all of them.

From Los Angeles Times

I would rather spend it figuring out how to enjoy adding something in than obsessing over what I need to cut out.

From Salon

Related Words

• beset
• consume
• dominate
• engross
• grip
• harass
• haunt
• infatuate
• torment