Word
obsessive
Phoneticsob·ses·sive, stress on the second syllable
US/əbˈsɛsɪv/
UK/ɒbsˈɛsɪv/
Definitions
01thinking too much about one thing
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.
“He is obsessive about cleanliness and washes his hands every twenty minutes.”
“Her obsessive attention to detail made her a brilliant editor, though it often led to friction with writers who preferred a more relaxed approach.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02excessive or extreme
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.
“The athlete's obsessive training schedule left her with very little time for a social life.”
“The detective's obsessive pursuit of the truth eventually cost him his job, as he began to ignore direct orders from his superiors.”
Synonyms
03an obsessed person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a person who is obsessed with something.
n. a person who exhibits or is prone to obsessions.
“When it comes to classic cars, he is a total obsessive.”
“The forum was populated by tech obsessives who spent hours debating the minor differences between various hardware components.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“And I think we can agree, she’s smashed it, despite being slightly obsessive about tidiness.” “From Obama’s chef to a big cat obsessive, the actor has gathered experts from all over the world for a film about how to heal our besieged planet.” Etymology
From obsess + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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