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DictionaryhookedAddicted
adjective

hooked

HOOKT/hʊkt/

Held by a dependence that is difficult to break.

The young man is hooked on gaming and ignores the meal beside him.

A young man is utterly absorbed in a video game, leaning toward the screen with an eager, fixed gaze and gripping the controller while an untouched meal sits beside him.
Etymology
hookEnglishcatch with a hook
+edEnglishpast-participle ending

Being “caught on a hook” became an image for addiction, initially to narcotics. The same image of being caught conveys a strong interest that holds someone’s attention.

In context

TDF2:51
… once you get hooked in this theater um you become addicted to it I when I have a problem problem or when something goes wrong …
Life as a Professional Theatre Usher (Captioned)

More examples

  • He is hooked on gambling and keeps betting despite his losses.
  • I'm hooked on caffeine and get headaches without my morning coffee.
  • After one episode, we're hooked on the new detective show.

Forms

hooked

Similar words

addicted
Emphasizes a compulsive need, often for a harmful substance.
dependent
Emphasizes reliance on something to function or feel normal.