obsess

[uhb-ses]

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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.

verb (used without object)

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

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 sit¹

Related formsob·sess·ing·ly, adverbob·ses·sor, noun

Can be confusedabscess obsess

Synonyms for obsess

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR obsess ON THESAURUS.COM

1. possess, control, haunt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for obsessing

grip, beset, consume, haunt, harass, torment, engross, dominate, infatuate, hold, possess

Examples from the Web for obsessing

Contemporary Examples of obsessing

Apparently Kukucuva had been obsessing about the break-up for some time.
Alleged Murderer Shot Her Millionaire Ex and Escaped in Gold Hummer
Barbie Latza Nadeau
April 11, 2014
Stop tweeting, texting, blogging, watching cable news, and obsessing about polls, lost planes, and focus group-driven politicians.
The Timeless Beauty of Baseball
Mike Barnicle
March 30, 2014
I'm sure that the web will spend most of this week obsessing over the more supernatural elements of Sunday's finale.
‘True Detective’ Finale Review: Close to Perfection
Andrew Romano
March 10, 2014
Yes, obsessing about problems is itself like a symptom of anxiety and generally not productive.
A Q&A with Scott Stossel, Author of ‘My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind’
Jesse Singal
February 20, 2014
To recap: the FCC spent over eight years obsessing over punishing those responsible for Nipplegate.
Super Bowl’s ‘Nipplegate’ Fiasco 10 Years Later: The Pop Diva, the Boob, and the Outrage
Marlow Stern
February 1, 2014

Historical Examples of obsessing

It seemed as if a cloud was in my brain, obsessing me at all times.
The Trail of '98
Robert W. Service
The first obsessing spell had given place to this—it was good to be so loved.
The Woman Gives
Owen Johnson
He hoped by these occupations to free himself from his obsessing thoughts of Vera.
The Precipice
Ivan Goncharov
The obsessing aim of many mothers is to "harden" their children.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction
Arabella Kenealy
Such thoughts were obsessing, also, the parson of the parish.
The Soul of Susan Yellam
Horace Annesley Vachell

British Dictionary definitions for obsessing

obsess

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

Word Origin for obsess

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

Word Origin and History for obsessing

obsess

c.1500, "to besiege," from Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidere "watch closely; besiege, occupy; stay, remain, abide" literally "sit opposite to," from ob "against" (see ob-) + sedere "sit" (see sedentary). Of evil spirits, "to haunt," from 1530s. Psychological sense is 20c. Related: Obsessed; obsessing.