Obsess Meaning
/əbˈsɛs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo be preoccupied with a single topic or emotion.
verbTo dominate the thoughts of someone.
Sentence Examples
Everybody blows it once in a while. It's better not to obsess on it.
Don't obsess over numbers. Numerology is nothing more than pseudoscience.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young girl would ____ over her test scores, thinking about them all day long.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is unhealthy to ____ over minor mistakes instead of focusing on how to improve in the future.
Word Origin & History
From Latin obsessus, perfect passive participle of obsideō (“sit on or in, remain, besiege”), from ob- (“before”) + sedeō (“to sit”); see sit, session, etc.; compare assess, possess.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason. The architect of modern science was himself not very modern. He was obsessed with alchemy."
— 2014 June 21, “Magician’s brain”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8892:
"Over the past few months, RAIL has frequently condemned the Department for Transport for its growing contempt for rail customers - by obsessing on cost, caring nothing for service, and not having the slightest interest in growth."
— 2023 August 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Disinterested and dishonest”, in RAIL, number 989, page 3:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young girl would ____ over her test scores, thinking about them all day long.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is unhealthy to ____ over minor mistakes instead of focusing on how to improve in the future.