# obsessive

/əbˈsɛsɪv/ (US) · /ɒbsˈɛsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obsessive
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. thinking too much about one thing

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. excessive or extreme

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. an obsessed person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is obsessed with something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He is obsessive about keeping his desk perfectly clean.
- Her obsessive attention to detail made her an excellent editor, though it often caused her to work late into the night.
- The detective's obsessive pursuit of the truth eventually alienated his colleagues, who felt he had lost his sense of perspective on the case.

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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.