# addictive

/əˈdɪktɪv/ (US) · /ɐdˈɪktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/addictive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. causing physical or mental dependency

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a substance or activity that makes you want to keep doing it, even if it is bad for you.

For teachers: causing or tending to cause physiological or psychological addiction through regular use or engagement.

- Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in cigarettes.
- Medical researchers have identified specific neural pathways that become hyper-responsive when exposed to addictive chemical compounds over an extended period.

Usage: Often used with the adverb 'highly'.

### 2. very enjoyable and hard to stop

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

describes something so fun or interesting that you want to do it all the time.

For teachers: highly engaging or enjoyable in a way that encourages repetitive participation; often used for media or games.

- That new puzzle game on my phone is so addictive that I played it for three hours.
- The developers designed the interface to be intentionally addictive, using frequent rewards and sensory feedback to ensure high user retention rates.

### 3. an addictive thing

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a drug or an activity that causes someone to become addicted.

For teachers: a substance or stimulus that functions as an agent of addiction.

- The doctor explained that the medicine could act as an addictive if taken for too long.
- The report categorised several common household chemicals as potential addictives if misused by vulnerable populations.

Usage: Rarely used as a noun in modern general English; usually functions as an adjective.

## Examples

- This new mobile game is very addictive.
- Social media apps are designed to be addictive so that users spend more time scrolling through their feeds.
- While some substances are chemically addictive, certain behaviors can also become compulsive through the repeated activation of the brain's dopamine pathways.

---

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.