Obsess — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /əb-ˈses/ ob·sess

Meaning & Definition of Obsess

Obsess (verb)

  1. to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of
  2. to engage in obsessive thinking, become obsessed with an idea

Obsess (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold one's attention to an extreme degree

    "The TV show obsessed me so much that I was up all night watching."

    similar: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize
    opposite: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Related Entry: Obsess (about or over) (verb)

Obsess (about or over) is a different word from Obsess. The synonyms below are for obsess (about or over), not for obsess.

  1. as in brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon)

    similar: brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to), carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure, cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain, bear, cherish, entertain, harbor, have, hold, nurse
    opposite: disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn, abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out, erase, expunge

Related Entry: Obsess (over) (verb)

Obsess (over) is a different word from Obsess. The synonyms below are for obsess (over), not for obsess.

  1. as in fixate (on)

    similar: fixate (on), attend, heed, mind, refocus, aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, zero (in on), center, concentrate, fasten, focus, rivet, train

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Obsess

The most common words with a similar meaning to Obsess:

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Obsess

Words with the opposite meaning of Obsess:

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Word Forms of Obsess

Inflections: obsessed, obsessing, obsesses

Origin & Etymology of Obsess

Middle English, in be obscessed "be tormented by (the Devil, an evil spirit)," borrowed from Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre "to sit so as to occupy a position, occupy, frequent, besiege, blockade, beset, assail" (Late Latin, "[of a demon] to possess"), from ob- "toward, facing, against" + sedēre "to sit, be seated" ob-, sit:1

First known use: 1531t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Obsess

Frequently Asked Questions about Obsess

What does "Obsess" mean?

"Obsess" means to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of. As a verb, it is defined as: to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of.

What is another word for "Obsess"?

Other words for "Obsess" include allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant and absorb. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Obsess" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Obsess"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Obsess". Common alternatives include allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, absorb, bemuse and busy.

What is the opposite of "Obsess"?

Antonyms of "Obsess" include bore, jade, pall, tire and weary.

How do you use "Obsess" in a sentence?

Examples of "Obsess" in a sentence: "The TV show obsessed me so much that I was up all night watching.".

Is "Obsess" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Obsess" is a verb.

Is "Obsess" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Obsess" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Obsess"?

"Obsess" is pronounced /əb-ˈses/ and divided into syllables as ob·sess.