obsess

verb

ob·​sess əb-ˈses How to pronounce obsess (audio)
äb-
obsessed; obsessing; obsesses
Synonyms of obsessnext

transitive verb

: to haunt or excessively preoccupy the mind of
was obsessed with the idea
She was obsessed with her car.

intransitive verb

: to engage in obsessive thinking : become obsessed with an idea
He's always obsessing over money.

Examples of obsess in a Sentence

The war obsesses him—he talks about nothing else. You need to stop obsessing and just deal with the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His work focuses on modern dating life, with jokes about trying to find love on the apps, obsessing over body image and millennials attempting to be real adults. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Collett was two years old at that time and has been obsessed with riding ever since. — Gemma Redrup, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Courtesy Carolwood Estates Hollywood has always been obsessed with appearances. — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Hoult’s Gilderoy Lockhart a notoriously vain, boastful and fame-obsessed wizard well versed in Memory Charms who is recruited by Dumbledore as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsess

Word History

Etymology

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" — more at ob-, sit entry 1

Note: This verb in its participle form obsessed is fairly common in early Modern English as a metaphorical extension of its Latin etymon in the sense "besiege, beset," the torment attributed to the Devil being compared to the besieging of a fortress. The same applies to the associated noun obsession. With these meanings the word is sometimes accompanied by its synonyms possessed and possession. From about 1660 to the early nineteenth century obsess and obsession are exceedingly rare in English text outside of dictionaries. They then begin to revive, but without any religious connotation, perhaps stimulated by parallel use in French of obséder and obsession.

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of obsess was in 1531

Rhymes for obsess

See All Rhymes for obsess

Browse Nearby Words

observe the social amenities
obsess
obsessed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obsess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsess. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

obsess

verb
ob·​sess əb-ˈses How to pronounce obsess (audio)
äb-
: to occupy the mind of completely or abnormally
obsessed with this new scheme

Medical Definition

obsess

transitive verb
ob·​sess əb-ˈses, äb- How to pronounce obsess (audio)
: to preoccupy intensely or abnormally
was obsessed with success

intransitive verb

: to engage in obsessive thinking
solve problems rather than obsess about them—Carol Tavris

More from Merriam-Webster on obsess

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obsess

Nglish: Translation of obsess for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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