Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who is physiologically dependent on a substance: An "addict" is someone whose body requires a specific substance, such as a drug, to function normally. Stopping the substance causes physical or mental distress known as withdrawal symptoms.
   • A person who is compulsively devoted to an activity or thing: An "addict" can also describe someone with an extremely strong, habitual enthusiasm for something, to a degree that resembles a dependency.

2. Verb:

   • To cause someone or oneself to become habitually dependent on something: To "addict" means to devote or surrender oneself habitually or compulsively to something, often a substance. This verb form is less common and often used in the passive voice (e.g., "to be addicted").

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The clinic provides support for drug addicts seeking recovery.
  • He is a complete chess addict, playing online for hours every day.

• Verb:

  • He addicted himself to video games, neglecting his other responsibilities. (Note: The more common phrasing is "He became addicted to...")
  • The substance is known to addict its users very quickly.

Advanced Usage

• "Self-confessed addict": A person who openly admits to having an addiction.

  • She is a self-confessed coffee addict, drinking several cups before noon.

• "Recovering addict": A person who is in the process of overcoming an addiction.

  • The program is designed to support recovering addicts.

Variants and Related Words

• Addicted (adjective): Being physically or mentally dependent on a substance or activity.

  • He is addicted to social media.

• Addiction (noun): The condition of being addicted.

  • Her addiction to shopping caused financial problems.

• Addictive (adjective): Causing or likely to cause addiction.

  • The game has a very addictive quality.

Synonyms

• Noun (for substance dependency): Junkie, user, dependent.
• Noun (for strong devotion): Enthusiast, fanatic, devotee, aficionado, freak (informal), junkie (informal, e.g., "news junkie").

Related Phrases

• "Addict to": This is the standard preposition used with the noun and adjective forms.
  • He is an addict to adrenaline sports.
  • She is addicted to chocolate.

Idioms

• "... addict" / "... junkie": Common informal compound nouns used to describe a person with a strong habit or enthusiasm for the specified thing.
  • A work addict rarely takes vacations.
  • A news junkie checks headlines constantly. (Note: These are listed here as common idiomatic patterns, not as the target word itself.)

Noun

1. someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance; abrupt deprivation of the substance produces withdrawal symptoms
2. someone who is so ardently devoted to something that it resembles an addiction
   • a golf addict
   • a car nut
   • a bodybuilding freak
   • a news junkie

Verb

1. to cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, especially a narcotic drug)