# addicting

/əˈdɪktɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐdˈɪktɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/addicting
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

making someone want to keep doing something or using something again and again. It is often used to describe things like games, food, or drugs that are very hard to stop once you start.

For teachers: causing a person to become dependent on a substance or activity. Often used in the present participle form to describe the nature of a substance or experience.

## Examples

- The game is very addicting and hard to put down.
- Many people find the addictive nature of social media difficult to manage during work hours.
- While some argue that the addictive properties of the substance are purely psychological, others maintain that the chemical dependency is the primary driver of continued use.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.