obsess
pronunciation
How to pronounce obsess in British English:
UK [əbˈses]
How to pronounce obsess in American English:
US [əbˈses]
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- Verb:
- haunt like a ghost; pursue
- be preoccupied with something
Word Origin
- obsess (v.)
- c. 1500, "to besiege," from Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidere "watch closely; besiege, occupy; stay, remain, abide" literally "sit opposite to," from ob "against" (see ob-) + sedere "sit" (see sedentary). Of evil spirits, "to haunt," from 1530s. Psychological sense is 20c. Related: Obsessed; obsessing.
Example
- 1. He wants stuff to obsess with at home .
- 2. Why do some men obsess over how many partners a woman has had ?
- 3. The project seems to obsess him .
- 4. Lin says in that interview that he has learned not to obsess about stats and championships .
- 5. The sad truth is that the pushy parents are being quite rational even if boring and tiresome to obsess over the qualifications that their children get .