obsession

noun

Sayuhb-SESH-uhn/əbˈsɛʃən/

Pluralobsessions

4 meanings of obsession

1
nouncountable
A hobby or thing you focus on so much that it may harm you.
Like a song stuck in your head that you cannot turn off.
Collecting old coins slowly became an obsession he could not control.
Her obsession with the video game kept her up all night.
Similarpassion, fixation, addiction
Note
2
nouncountable
An idea you keep thinking about over and over, even when it makes no sense.
Like a worry that keeps coming back no matter how often you push it away.
The fear of failure turned into an obsession he could not shake.
Her obsession with being perfect made even small choices very hard.
Similarfixation, preoccupation
3
nouncountable or uncountable
The state of not being able to stop thinking about something.
Like when your mind gets stuck on one thing and will not move on.
Her obsession with detail made her a very careful editor.
There was an obsession in the way he checked the locks each night.
Similarpreoccupation, fixation
4
noununcountable
Influence or control over a person by evil spirits from outside, without the spirits entering the body.
The village priest believed the strange torments were a clear sign of obsession.
Church members prayed for him every night, afraid his obsession would turn into full possession.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin obsessio meaning "a besieging," from obsidere "to besiege."