Library / English Dictionary

OBSESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Haunt like a ghost; pursue

Example:

Fear of illness haunts her

Synonyms:

ghost; haunt; obsess

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "obsess" is one way to...):

preoccupy (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The good news will obsess her

Derivation:

obsession (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be preoccupied with something

Example:

She is obsessing over her weight

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "obsess" is one way to...):

worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue obsess over the results of the experiment

Derivation:

obsession (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)

obsessive (characterized by or constituting an obsession)

Credits

 Context examples: 

That’s why it’s unusual to see you fairly obsessed with financials and in getting yours in order.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)