addict
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“He went to a clinic to get help because he was a drug addict.”
In context“The clinic provides comprehensive support for every recovering addict, focusing on both the physical withdrawal and the underlying psychological triggers.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the substance.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“My sister is a total fitness addict and goes to the gym every morning.”
In context“As a self-proclaimed news addict, she spends her entire morning commute scrolling through various international journalism apps.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The company was accused of trying to addict children to sugary snacks.”
In context“The lawsuit alleged that the pharmaceutical company intentionally designed the medication to addict patients, ensuring long-term reliance on their product.”
UsageUsually used in the passive voice ('be addicted to') or as a transitive verb followed by an object.
Synonyms
“It’s special because I’m a book addict and this bookshelf has come with me on my travels.”
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.