obsess

American

[uhb-ses] / əbˈsɛs /

verb (used with object)

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

verb (used without object)

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

obsess British

/ əbˈsɛs /

verb

(tr; when passive, foll by with or by) to preoccupy completely; haunt
(intr; usually foll by on or over) to worry neurotically or obsessively; brood

"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

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

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

Especially in event, wedding and party planning, you can obsess so much.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tracini spent so many years obsessing over the show that he felt he owed it to himself to perform it.

From BBC

Part of the reason for the streaming success of “KPop Demon Hunters” music in the U.S., of course, is that it came wrapped up in an easily accessible film that kids obsessed over.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is still "obsessed" with rugby and says he intends to continue his punditry and analysis work alongside his fledgling medical career.

From BBC

“I grew up obsessed with Santa Claus — I did not grow up obsessed with the Grinch,” Darnell said.

From Los Angeles Times

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