Word
addict
Phoneticsad·dict, stress on the first syllable
/ˈæˌdɪkt/
Definitions
01person with a dependency
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a person who cannot stop taking a drug or doing a particular activity.
n. a person who is physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance or activity.
“He went to a clinic to get help because he was a drug addict.”
“The clinic provides comprehensive support for every recovering addict, focusing on both the physical withdrawal and the underlying psychological triggers.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the substance.
02an enthusiastic fan
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. someone who is very interested in something and spends a lot of time on it.
n. an enthusiastic devotee or fan of a particular activity or interest.
“My sister is a total fitness addict and goes to the gym every morning.”
“As a self-proclaimed news addict, she spends her entire morning commute scrolling through various international journalism apps.”
Synonyms
03to cause dependency
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to make someone become dependent on a drug or a habit.
v. to cause someone to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a substance or practice.
“The company was accused of trying to addict children to sugary snacks.”
“The lawsuit alleged that the pharmaceutical company intentionally designed the medication to addict patients, ensuring long-term reliance on their product.”
Usage
Usually used in the passive voice ('be addicted to') or as a transitive verb followed by an object.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Coleridge realized that he was an addict and sought medical help on several occasions.” “It’s special because I’m a book addict and this bookshelf has come with me on my travels.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin addictus, past participle of addīcō (“deliver; devote; surrender”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + dīcō (“say; declare”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/addict