WordLens

obsess

1 of 1verb
/əbˈsɛs/
Forms:obsesses,obsessing,obsessed,obsessed
1

to think about something or someone all the time, in a way that makes one unable to think about other things

C1
  • Ever since the breakup, she has been obsessing over what went wrong.
  • After the job interview, he couldn't stop obsessing about how he answered certain questions.
  • Some people obsess about their appearance, leading to body image concerns.
  • Students preparing for exams may obsess over getting perfect grades.
  • The detective couldn't help but obsess over the unsolved case, constantly seeking new leads.
Synonyms:
2

to fill someone’s mind constantly, often in a way that feels overwhelming or uncontrollable

transitive
  • She was so obsessed with her grades that she forgot to enjoy her school experience.
  • The unsolved mystery continued to obsess the detective long after the case was closed.
  • The need to find an answer obsessed her until she finally solved the problem.
  • He let the idea of winning completely obsess his mind.
  • The idea of failure began to obsess her, making it hard to focus.