obsession
gb/əbsˈɛʃən/ us/əbsˈɛʃən/
B2
English
~ 7800
megszállottság, rögeszme, mánia, kényszergondolat, obszesszió
NOUN
B2
1
rögeszme
C1
Usage pattern:
have an obsession with [something]
His obsession with social media is starting to affect his sleep and his grades.
A közösségi média iránti megszállottsága kezd kihatni az alvására és a jegyeire.
The documentary explores our cultural obsession with fame and celebrity.
A dokumentumfilm a hírnév és a celebkultusz iránti kulturális megszállottságunkat vizsgálja.
Her neatness goes beyond simple tidiness and borders on obsession.
The coach’s obsession with winning put a lot of pressure on the team.
She talks about her diet so often that it feels like an obsession.
Learner examples
He has an obsession with video games and plays every night.
Megszállottsága a videojátékok, és minden este játszik.
Her obsession with her appearance makes her check the mirror all the time.
A külseje iránti megszállottsága miatt állandóan a tükörbe néz.
Their father’s obsession with money causes many fights at home.
My friend’s obsession with his phone makes it hard to talk to him.
The actor’s obsession with success pushes him to work very long hours.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "obsession" with "passion". "Passion" is usually positive and healthy, while "obsession" often suggests something too strong or unhealthy. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: it is usually "obsession with" (e.g. "her obsession with fashion"), not *"obsession of"*. Also, remember to use an article: say "an obsession" or "his obsession", not *"he has obsession with games"*.
Meaning
very strong, often unhealthy focus
Collocations
have an obsession
|an unhealthy obsession
|obsession with work
|bordering on obsession
|become an obsession
|a bit of an obsession
Synonyms
fixation (Suggests being stuck on one thing, often sounding slightly technical or psychological.)
|
preoccupation (Sounds a little milder and more formal, and does not always imply something unhealthy.)
|
mania (Informal; often suggests wild or extreme enthusiasm, sometimes shared by many people.)
|
obsessiveness (Refers more to the general quality of being obsessed rather than to one specific focus.)
Antonyms
disinterest (Lack of interest or concern, the opposite of intense mental focus.)
|
detachment (Calm distance and lack of emotional involvement, the opposite of being mentally gripped by something.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|daily_life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very strong feeling or interest that makes you think about someone or something all the time, often too much.
A very strong and persistent preoccupation with someone or something that dominates a person’s thoughts or behavior, often to an excessive or unhealthy degree.
NOUN
B2
2
mánia
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is [someone]'s obsession
Running has become his new obsession, and he signs up for every race he can find.
A futás lett az új mániája, és minden versenyre nevez, amit csak talál.
As a teenager, that band was my absolute obsession.
Tizenévesen az a zenekar volt a mániám.
Their dog is their shared obsession; they talk about him constantly.
For a while, online chess was her main obsession.
True crime podcasts are his latest obsession.
Learner examples
Cooking is her new obsession.
A főzés az új mániája.
When I was a child, dinosaurs were my big obsession.
Gyerekkoromban a dinoszauruszok voltak a nagy mániám.
Right now, this TV series is my obsession.
His secret obsession is old horror movies.
Soccer was his childhood obsession.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I have an obsession about football"* instead of "I have an obsession with football" or simply "Football is my obsession." Another mistake is using "obsession" for a normal interest. In many situations, "favorite thing" or "hobby" is better if the feeling is not very strong or constant.
Meaning
thing someone is obsessed with
Collocations
childhood obsession
|new obsession
|current obsession
|lifelong obsession
|secret obsession
|my latest obsession
Synonyms
passion (Often more positive and creative; does not always imply something unhealthy.)
|
craze (Usually temporary and often shared by many people; more playful or trendy than "obsession".)
|
hobby (Neutral and weaker; a regular activity you enjoy, not usually something that dominates your thoughts.)
Antonyms
indifference (Total lack of interest in a person or thing, the opposite of having it as an obsession.)
Themes
daily_life
|emotions
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The person, thing, or activity that someone is obsessed with or thinks about all the time.
The particular person, thing, or activity that someone is extremely and persistently interested in or worried about.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
obszesszió
C2
Usage pattern:
experience obsessions about [something]
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder often report obsessions about contamination or harm.
A kényszerbetegségben szenvedő páciensek gyakran számolnak be szennyeződéstől vagy ártalomtól való kényszergondolatokról.
Therapy helped her challenge the obsessions that made simple daily tasks feel impossible.
A terápia segített neki megkérdőjelezni azokat a kényszergondolatokat, amelyek az egyszerű mindennapi feladatokat is lehetetlenné tették.
These obsessions are unwanted, and the patient recognizes that they are a product of their own mind.
Medication can reduce the intensity of obsessions and make them easier to manage.
His obsessions were mainly images of accidents happening to his family.
Learner examples
People with OCD can have strong obsessions about dirt or germs.
Az OCD-s embereknek lehetnek erős kényszergondolataik a koszról vagy a kórokozókról.
The doctor explained that his scary thoughts were obsessions, not real dangers.
Az orvos elmagyarázta, hogy a félelmetes gondolatai kényszergondolatok, nem valódi veszélyek.
Her obsessions make her wash her hands many times every day.
Treatment can help people who suffer from painful obsessions.
These obsessions are not wishes; they are thoughts she does not want.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not realize that in medical contexts "obsession" has a specific meaning: an unwanted, repeated thought or image that causes distress. It is not simply a strong interest. In this sense, it is usually used in the plural ("obsessions") and often contrasted with "compulsions" in discussions of OCD.
Meaning
intrusive, distressing recurring thought
Collocations
recurrent obsessions
|intrusive obsessions
|obsessions and compulsions
|obsessions about contamination
|treat obsessions
|OCD-related obsessions
Synonyms
intrusive thought (Clinical/technical phrase that highlights the unwanted and involuntary nature of the thought.)
Antonyms
voluntary thought (A thought that a person chooses to have, which contrasts with the involuntary nature of an obsession in this sense.)
Themes
psychology
|medicine
|health
|science
Definition
In mental health, a thought, picture, or feeling that comes into your mind again and again, that you do not want, and that makes you feel very upset.
In psychology and psychiatry, a recurrent and persistent thought, image, or urge that enters the mind involuntarily, is experienced as unwanted, and causes marked anxiety or distress.
Grammar
Dictionary form
obsession
IPA
GB/əbsˈɛʃən/
US/əbsˈɛʃən/
Syllables & stress
ob - ses - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ses)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: obsession
- Plural: obsession, obsessions
Word family
Expressions
a bit of an obsession
1/ə bˈɪt əv ən əbsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
somewhat strong obsession
A fairly strong interest that you think about a lot, often said in a light or joking way.
Examples
- I have a bit of an obsession with coffee mugs.
- Her color-coded planner is a bit of an obsession.
- He admits he has a bit of an obsession with sneakers.
an obsession with detail
1/ən əbsˈɛʃən wˈɪθ dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
very strong focus on details
A very strong need to look at and control every small part of something.
Examples
- The director’s obsession with detail made the film visually perfect.
- Her obsession with detail is great for accounting but tiring for her coworkers.
- The restaurant is known for its obsession with detail in every dish.
an unhealthy obsession with
1/ən ʌnhˈɛlθi əbsˈɛʃən wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
harmful level of obsession
A very strong interest in something that is so strong it starts to hurt your life, health, or relationships.
Examples
- The movie shows the dangers of an unhealthy obsession with beauty.
- He has an unhealthy obsession with checking his work email at all hours.
- Some teenagers develop an unhealthy obsession with how many likes they get online.
border on obsession
1/bˈɔɹdɚ ˈɔn əbsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
be almost an obsession
To be so strong or extreme that it is almost an obsession.
Examples
- His attention to detail borders on obsession.
- Her need to control the schedule borders on obsession.
- The fans’ love for the singer sometimes borders on obsession.
develop an obsession with
1/dɪvˈɛləp ən əbsˈɛʃən wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
start to become obsessed with
To slowly start to feel obsessed with something, so that you think about it all the time.
Examples
- During the pandemic, many people developed an obsession with baking bread.
- He developed an obsession with learning languages after his trip abroad.
- She has recently developed an obsession with online shopping.
have an obsession with
1/hˈæv ən əbsˈɛʃən wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
be extremely interested in
To like or think about something or someone so much that it feels too strong or too constant.
Examples
- He has an obsession with fitness and spends hours at the gym every day.
- She has an obsession with true crime shows and watches them late into the night.
- They have an obsession with perfection that slows every project down.
my latest obsession
1/mˈaɪ lˈeɪtɪst əbsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
new thing I'm obsessed with
The newest thing that you are very into and think or talk about a lot.
Examples
- This podcast is my latest obsession; I listen to it every morning.
- Her latest obsession is indoor plants, and the apartment is full of them.
- Right now, Korean dramas are my latest obsession.
turn into an obsession
1/tˈɚn ˈɪntu ən əbsˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
change from interest to obsession
To change from a normal interest into something you think about too much.
Examples
- What started as a casual interest turned into an obsession.
- Checking the news has turned into an obsession for him.
- For some people, healthy eating can turn into an obsession.