English Reference
adjective · noun

obsessive

adj. · n.
US /əbˈsɛsɪv/ UK /ɒbsˈɛsɪv/ ob·ses·sive

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.thinking or worrying about one thing so much that you cannot think about anything else.

    adj.characterised by a preoccupation with a specific idea, activity, or person to the exclusion of other interests.

    Simple

    He is obsessive about cleanliness and washes his hands every twenty minutes.

    In context

    Her obsessive attention to detail made her a brilliant editor, though it often led to friction with writers who preferred a more relaxed approach.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.done in an extreme way that seems like you cannot stop.

    adj.excessive in nature or degree, often as a result of an internal compulsion.

    Simple

    The athlete's obsessive training schedule left her with very little time for a social life.

    In context

    The detective's obsessive pursuit of the truth eventually cost him his job, as he began to ignore direct orders from his superiors.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.a person who is obsessed with something.

    n.a person who exhibits or is prone to obsessions.

    Simple

    When it comes to classic cars, he is a total obsessive.

    In context

    The forum was populated by tech obsessives who spent hours debating the minor differences between various hardware components.


From obsess + -ive.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated