obsess

verb

USuhb-SES/əbˈsɛs/

Formsobsesses, obsessing, obsessed

3 meanings of obsess

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To think about one thing so much that little else gets your attention.
Like a song stuck in your head that you cannot turn off.
Try not to obsess about things you cannot change.
She was obsessed with her new phone for the whole week.
Similarfixate, fret, agonize
Note
2
verbcolloquialintransitive
To keep thinking or talking about something far more than is normal.
Like checking your phone again and again for the same message.
My friends obsess about that show every single day.
Stop obsessing over one bad grade and move on.
Similarfret, agonize, fixate
3
verbtransitive
To fill someone's mind so much that they can think of little else.
Like a worry that fills your whole mind and pushes everything else out.
The unsolved puzzle obsessed her for weeks.
Money seemed to obsess every member of the family.
Similarconsume, haunt, preoccupy, possess
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of obsess apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin obsideō, meaning "to sit on" or "besiege," made from ob ("before") plus sedeō ("I sit").