obsession

American  

[uhb-sesh-uhn] / əbˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

• obsessions
  plural

1. the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.

2. the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.

3. the state of being obsessed.

4. the act of obsessing.

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obsession British  

/ əbˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. psychiatry a persistent idea or impulse that continually forces its way into consciousness, often associated with anxiety and mental illness

2. a persistent preoccupation, idea, or feeling

3. the act of obsessing or the state of being obsessed

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obsession Cultural  

1. A preoccupation with a feeling or idea. In psychology, an obsession is similar to a compulsion.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonobsession
  noun
• self-obsession
  noun
• nonobsessional
  adjective
• obsessional
  adjective
• obsessionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• obsessions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of obsession

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin obsessiōn-, stem of obsessiō “blockade, siege,” from obsess(us) “occupied, besieged” (past participle of obsidēre “to occupy, besiege”; see obsess) + -iō -ion

Explanation

If you have an obsession, you're totally fixated on something and unhealthily devoted to it. Some common obsessions include fantasy football leagues, celebrity gossip, and Elvis memorabilia. Obsession is kind of like a passion for something that crosses the line into crazy territory. Sometimes people get so preoccupied with their obsessions that it makes them anxious or emotionally unstable. If you have an obsession with the Yankees, for example, you might go to every single game, skip work to watch spring training, paper your room with Yankees posters, and write love notes to Derek Jeter.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obsession obsessions

That obsession to improve is undoubtedly his greatest strength.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

"When I met him, I could see a real author's style in him and I've always sensed in him an obsession with becoming a writer and a thirst for reading," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

Ever the humanist, fascinated by ordinary people taking on otherwise herculean tasks to the point of obsession, Herzog resolved decades ago to make a film inspired by the sisters.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Olympic gold medalist Remco Evenepoel’s unique build and obsession with optimizing equipment have turned him into a favorite at this week’s road cycling world championships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

I don’t know if there’s a how-to-go-on-a-first-date-without-making-a-total-fool-of-yourself handbook out there, but if there is I’m pretty sure fessing up to your weird Dolly Parton obsession is not on the do list.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Her own relationship to the subject provides a kind of narrative service road to Mr. Lowe’s four-lane highway of ultramarathoners and their obsessions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The rediscovery of Homer, alien obsessions, a novel of the Roman Republic’s fall and more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Rowbottom’s willingness to move toward culturally uncomfortable material is central to her work, he stressed, treating so-called lowbrow or feminine cultural obsessions not as guilty pleasures, but as material worthy of literary merit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

This isn’t all that uncommon: Trends crop up in filmmaking all the time, as potential narratives emerge from real-life events and cultural obsessions.

From Salon ● May 25, 2026

“The Sixers are really no different than a Gunter clan, albeit a well-funded one. We share all the same obsessions as gunters. And we have the same goal.”

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• compulsion
• delusion
• enthusiasm
• fascination
• infatuation
• mania
• passion
• phobia
• preoccupation