obsess

verb

ob·​sess əb-ˈses 

äb-

obsessed; obsessing; obsesses

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

In the story, based on the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux, the brooding musical prodigy Phantom, who wears a mask to cover a facial disfigurement, haunts the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with young soprano Christine Daaé. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

After clawing her way back to life, Maddie struggles with terrifying visions and the weight of protecting both the living and the dead while Simon (Kristian Ventura)–trapped in the afterlife–becomes obsessed with the secrets buried in Split River High’s scars. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025

The anti-Trump drumbeat from Democrats and the left-leaning media has gotten louder over the last few months, obsessing over every little perceived slight from the president. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025

Diet culture masquerading as health and wellness profits from people obsessing over their weight. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for obsess

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

obsess

verb

ob·​sess əb-ˈses 

äb-

: to occupy the mind of completely or abnormally

obsessed with this new scheme

Medical Definition

obsess

transitive verb

ob·​sess əb-ˈses, äb- 

: 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