obsess
gb/əbsˈɛs/ us/əbsˈɛs/
B2
English
nem hagy nyugodni, kísért
VERB
B2
1
kísért
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] obsesses [someone]
The idea that he might have made a mistake obsessed him all week.
Egész héten nem hagyta nyugodni a gondolat, hogy talán hibázott.
After the interview, one awkward moment kept obsessing her.
Az interjú után folyton kísértette egy kínos pillanat emléke.
The question of why it happened still obsesses me.
Learner examples
That small mistake obsesses me.
Az a kis hiba nem hagy nyugodni.
The thought obsesses him.
Ez a gondolat nem hagyja nyugodni.
Common mistake:
Do not say “I am obsess.” Say “I obsess over it” or “I am obsessed with it.”
Meaning
fill someone’s mind constantly
Collocations
be obsessed by something
|be obsessed with someone
|be obsessed with something
|an idea obsesses someone
|a fear obsesses someone
|a thought obsesses someone
|a question obsesses someone
|obsess someone for years
|obsess someone completely
|obsess someone constantly
Synonyms
preoccupy (More neutral and less emotional than obsess.)
|
consume (Suggests it takes up almost all attention.)
|
haunt (Often used for troubling thoughts or memories.)
Antonyms
distract (To pull someone’s attention away instead of fixing it on one thing.)
|
relieve (To reduce worry or mental pressure rather than intensify it.)
Themes
emotions
|mental_health
|thinking
Definition
If something obsesses you, you cannot stop thinking about it.
To occupy someone’s thoughts continually and intensely, often in an unhealthy or anxious way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
obsess
IPA
GB/əbsˈɛs/
US/əbsˈɛs/
Syllables & stress
ob - sess (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sess)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: obsess
- 3rd Person Singular: obsesses
- Present Participle: obsessing
- Past: obsessed
Word family
Expressions
be obsessed with
1/bˈi əbsˈɛst wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
be unable to stop thinking
To like something very much or think about it all the time.
Examples
- She’s obsessed with true-crime podcasts right now.
- He became obsessed with getting everything perfect.
- Her parents worried he was obsessed with her.
Learner examples
- I’m obsessed with this song.
- He is obsessed with his phone.
don’t obsess (about it)
1/dˈoʊnt əbsˈɛs əbˈaʊt ˈɪt/
fixed phrase
don’t worry too much
Stop thinking about it so much.
Examples
- You apologized—don’t obsess about it now.
- Don’t obsess; it’s not a big deal.
- If it’s out of your control, don’t obsess about it.
Learner examples
- Don’t obsess about the small things.
obsess over
1/əbsˈɛs ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
think about something too much
To think about something too much and not be able to stop.
Examples
- Try not to obsess over what you said at the meeting.
- He’s been obsessing over that comment for days.
- Don’t obsess over every tiny detail—just finish the draft.
Learner examples
- I obsess over small mistakes.
- She is obsessing over the exam.