absorb

[ab-sawrb, -zawrb]

verb (used with object)

1. to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up.

   A sponge absorbs water.

2. to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate.

   The empire absorbed many small nations.

   Synonyms: destroy, engulf, devour, consume, assimilate

3. to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly.

   so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell.

4. to occupy or fill.

   This job absorbs all of my time.

5. to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action.

   Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide.

6. to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection.

   to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock.

7. to take in and utilize.

   The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information?

8. to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.).

   The company will absorb all the research costs.

9. Archaic.,  to swallow up.

absorb

/ əbˈsɔːb, -ˈzɔːb /

verb

1. to soak or suck up (liquids)

2. to engage or occupy (the interest, attention, or time) of (someone); engross

3. to receive or take in (the energy of an impact)

4. physics to take in (all or part of incident radiated energy) and retain the part that is not reflected or transmitted

5. to take in or assimilate; incorporate

6. to accept and find a market for (goods, etc)

7. to pay for as part of a commercial transaction

   the distributor absorbed the cost of transport

8. chem to cause to undergo a process in which one substance, usually a liquid or gas, permeates into or is dissolved by a liquid or solid Compare adsorb

   porous solids absorb water

   hydrochloric acid absorbs carbon dioxide

Other Word Forms

• absorbable adjective
• absorbability noun
• nonabsorbability noun
• nonabsorbable adjective
• overabsorb verb (used with object)
• preabsorb verb
• reabsorb verb (used with object)
• unabsorbable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of absorb¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- + sorbēre “to suck in, swallow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of absorb¹

C15: via Old French from Latin absorbēre to suck, swallow, from _ab- ¹ + sorbēre to suck

Example Sentences

It may be a layered example of up-to-the-minute Conceptual art, deeply absorbing and surprisingly suggestive, but the deeds are also lithographs, a perfectly traditional medium.

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On Wednesday, a community already traumatized by fire had to absorb another hit.

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The surface of an asteroid absorbs heat from the Sun and re-emits it in different directions.

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But these psychic wounds didn’t make Candy a cruel or nasty person; he simply absorbed the hurt and redoubled his efforts to be a genial performer.

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Melo said he takes measures to prevent workers from absorbing or inhaling toxic chemicals.

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Related Words

• assimilate 
• follow 
• get 
• incorporate 
• learn 
• take in 
• understand