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Prepositions after adjectives

How to use obsessed with prepositions

Obsessed is most commonly followed by with. Other prepositions are limited to specific meanings or are uncommon.

Quick answer

Use obsessed with in most situations

Use obsessed with for a strong or unhealthy interest in something. Obsessed by is less common and often passive in tone. Obsessed about and obsessed over appear in informal English. Obsessed in is not a standard pattern.

He's obsessed with vintage watches.
She became obsessed with fitness tracking.
The detective was obsessed by the case.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
obsessed with + thing/person

Strong interest or fixation

With is the standard and most natural preposition after obsessed.

Teenagers are often obsessed with social media.
He is obsessed with perfection.
2
obsessed by + idea/event

Passive or literary tone

By can suggest being mentally dominated by something.

She was obsessed by the mystery.
He seemed obsessed by revenge.
3
obsessed about + topic

Informal variation

About appears in informal speech but is less standard than with.

He's obsessed about football statistics.
4
obsessed over + detail

Focusing excessively on something

Over is used especially for worrying or thinking too much about details.

She was obsessed over every small mistake.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
obsessed with
She is obsessed with fashion.
Standard and most common pattern.
obsessed by
He was obsessed by the idea.
More passive or literary in tone.
obsessed about
They're obsessed about celebrity news.
Informal variant, less preferred than with.
obsessed in
He is obsessed in video games.
Not a standard adjective pattern.
obsessed over
She obsessed over tiny details.
Common especially with the verb obsess over; adjective use is informal.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in after obsessed

In is not normally used after obsessed.

✕ He is obsessed in technology. ✓ He is obsessed with technology.

Overusing about in formal writing

With is more standard and natural.

✕ The article says she is obsessed about money. ✓ The article says she is obsessed with money.

Confusing adjective and verb patterns

Obsess over is more common as a verb pattern than as an adjective complement.

✕ He is obsessed over the plan. ✓ He is obsessed with the plan.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is obsessed ___ online gaming.
2. Which option sounds more literary or passive?
3. He became obsessed ___ every tiny error.

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Frequently asked questions

Is obsessed with the correct form?

Yes. It is the standard and most widely used pattern.

Can I say obsessed by?

Yes. It is grammatical and often sounds more literary or passive.

Is obsessed in correct?

No. That combination is not standard English.

obedient-to-unto-in-by, of "objective in" or "objective about"? "obligatory for" or "obligatory on"? "oblivious to" or "oblivious of"? observable in, by, from, to or on? obsessive about, in, over, with or to? "obsolete in" or "obsolete by"? "obtainable in" or "obtainable from"? "obvious to", "obvious from" or "obvious in"? odd to, for, about, in or on? offensive to, in, against, on or about? official with, in, for, on or at?

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