OBSESS

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does obsess mean? 

• OBSESS (verb)
  The verb OBSESS has 2 senses:

1. haunt like a ghost; pursue

2. be preoccupied with something

  Familiarity information: OBSESS used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBSESS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they obsess    ... he / she / it obsesses   
Past simple: obsessed   
Past participle: obsessed   
-ing form: obsessing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Haunt like a ghost; pursue

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

ghost; haunt; obsess

Context example:

Fear of illness haunts her

Hypernyms (to "obsess" is one way to...):

preoccupy (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The good news will obsess her

Derivation:

obsession (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be preoccupied with something

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

She is obsessing over her weight

Hypernyms (to "obsess" is one way to...):

worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue obsess over the results of the experiment

Derivation:

obsession (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)

obsessive (characterized by or constituting an obsession)

 Context examples 

This ordeal made me obsessed with giving my children a better, easier way to learn than I had—a good education as a student in school.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The slaves were obsessed by their own slavery.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He became obsessed by the idea that it was his duty to kill Dennin; and whenever he waited upon the bound man or watched by him, Edith was troubled by the fear that Hans would add another red entry to the cabin's record.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

All this made me even more obsessed with giving my children the best education I could for them.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I now I'm making a fool of myself, but the thing has obsessed me.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This entire month will be about financial reward, and in your report here I will talk about it so much that you might suppose I am slightly obsessed.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Every once in a while, the universe becomes obsessed with one part of life, and for you, this coming year, and especially this month, dear Aries, the emphasis will be on your career.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Since the end of December, you have been near-obsessed with your partner.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Many planets have crowded into your eighth house of other people’s money, so you seem fairly obsessed with money management.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

To say you will be fairly obsessed with money matters is an understatement, for Mars will tour your eighth house of other people’s money.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)