Word
addicted
Phoneticsad·dict·ed
US/əˈdɪktɪd/
UK/ɐdˈɪktɪd/
Definitions
01physical or mental dependency
adj. unable to stop taking a harmful substance or doing a harmful activity.
adj. physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance or activity. Usually follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'to'.
“He became addicted to cigarettes when he was a teenager and found it very hard to quit.”
“Medical professionals are increasingly concerned about patients becoming addicted to prescription painkillers after undergoing major surgery.”
Usage
Always used with the preposition 'to' followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form).
Pitfall
He is addicted from gambling.
He is addicted to gambling.
The adjective 'addicted' always takes the preposition 'to', never 'from' or 'with'.
02very interested or obsessed
adj. liking something so much that you want to do it all the time.
adj. enthusiastically devoted to a particular interest or activity. Often used in a lighthearted or hyperbolic manner.
“My sister is completely addicted to that new TV show and watched the whole season in one day.”
“The younger generation appears addicted to short-form video content, spending hours scrolling through social media feeds every evening.”
Informal
Usage
Often used with intensifying adverbs like 'completely', 'totally', or 'absolutely'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“She told People in 2021: “I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving.” “Lonely planet: why are we addicted to the social media scroll when it is so clearly harming us?” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/addicted