Word
obsession
Phoneticsob·ses·sion, stress on the second syllable
US/əbˈsɛʃən/
UK/ɒbsˈɛʃən/
Definitions
01unhealthy preoccupation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a state where you think about something or someone all the time and cannot stop.
n. a persistent and disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling. Often used uncountably to describe the psychological state.
Español:obsesión
“His obsession with fitness means he spends four hours at the gym every single day.”
“The public's obsession with the celebrity's private life has led to a complete breakdown of her personal boundaries and mental health.”
Usage
Commonly follows the pattern 'obsession with [something]'.
Pitfall
He has an obsession for classic cars.
He has an obsession with classic cars.
The noun 'obsession' almost always takes the preposition 'with' when identifying the object of interest.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the object of interest
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the specific thing or person that you are obsessed with.
n. a specific activity, person, or entity that inspires a compulsive fixation. Countable in this sense.
Español:obsesión
“Collecting rare stamps became a lifelong obsession for him.”
“What started as a casual interest in local history eventually transformed into a consuming obsession that dictated his travel plans for a decade.”
03spiritual influence
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. the belief that an evil spirit is controlling or influencing someone's mind.
n. the state of being influenced or beset by an evil spirit, distinguished from 'possession' where the spirit inhabits the body.
“The old texts described a case of obsession where the victim heard voices from the shadows.”
“Theological scholars distinguish between possession, where the entity resides within, and obsession, where the external influence torments the individual's psyche.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “obsession” in context.
Verb
01. border on obsession
“His dedication to physical fitness has begun to border on obsession.”
verb + prep + noun
02. fuel an obsession
“Constant social media updates only serve to fuel her obsession with her public image.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. lifelong obsession
“His lifelong obsession with vintage clocks started when he was just five years old.”
adj + noun
04. unhealthy obsession
“Psychologists warn that an unhealthy obsession with celebrity culture can lead to low self-esteem.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. obsession that borders
“He has an obsession that borders on the pathological.”
noun + that-clause
06. obsession with detail
“The architect's obsession with detail is evident in every corner of the building.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
07. with an obsession
“She pursued the truth with an obsession that eventually alienated her colleagues.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Turfgrass lawns, for example, a particular American obsession , requires regular mowing, fertilizing and watering, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and water use.” “Burgess talked to his new American friend about Beethoven and the American obsession with annual holidays.” “King Charles is on the throne, there’s anxiety around the power-brokers of Whitehall, and an age of deep political division and conspiracy obsession is under way.” Etymology
From Latin obsessio (“a besieging”), from obsidere (“to besiege”); see obsess. Equivalent to obsess + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
The word in film
Obsession · 2026 · Horror
- Directed by:
- Curry Barker
- Starring:
- Andy Richter, Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston
Director Curry Barker explores the terrifying idea of an evil spirit taking control of a person's mind in this 2026 horror film. The title highlights the supernatural force that influences the characters' actions and creates a frightening atmosphere.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/obsession
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0