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Obsessing: meaning, definitions and examples

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obsessing

 

[ əbˈsɛsɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

keeping focus

Obsessing refers to the act of continually thinking about or dwelling on something to an excessive degree. It often implies that the individual is unable to control their thoughts, which can lead to stress and anxiety. This behavior can manifest in various forms, such as fixating on a person or idea, and can disrupt daily life. Obsessing can stem from various psychological conditions, but it can also simply reflect a strong interest or passion for something.

Synonyms

dwelling, fixating, preoccupying

Examples of usage

  • She was obsessing over her upcoming exam.
  • He couldn't stop obsessing about his favorite band.
  • They tend to obsess over small details.
  • I'm obsessing about what to wear to the party.

Translations

Translations of the word "obsessing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 obsessão

🇮🇳 अधिक चिंतित होना

🇩🇪 Besessenheit

🇮🇩 mengkhawatirkan

🇺🇦 одержимість

🇵🇱 obsesja

🇯🇵 執着

🇫🇷 obsession

🇪🇸 obsesión

🇹🇷 takıntı

🇰🇷 강박

🇸🇦 هوس

🇨🇿 posedlost

🇸🇰 posadnutosť

🇨🇳 痴迷

🇸🇮 obsesija

🇮🇸 ofsókn

🇰🇿 жадын

🇬🇪 მოწონება

🇦🇿 obsessiya

🇲🇽 obsesión

Etymology

The term 'obsess' originates from the Latin word 'obsessus', which is the past participle of 'obsidere', meaning 'to occupy or besiege'. This Latin root combines 'ob-', meaning 'against', and 'sedere', meaning 'to sit'. The word entered the English language in the late 14th century, initially used in the context of being besieged or occupied by a thought or idea. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe an overwhelming mental fixation. In modern psychology, obsessing is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which highlights the intrusive nature of such thoughts.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,663 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.