engrossed

American  

[en-grohst] / ɛnˈgroʊst /

adjective

1. completely occupied or absorbed, as by something that captures the mind or attention; showing or characterized by such absorption.

   A carefully planned light show, combined with a five-minute tapestry of spacey sounds by the quartet, brought the engrossed audience into a meditative state.

2. written or copied in a clear, attractive, large script or in a formal manner, as a public document or record.

   In the year 1776 Hopkinson voted for the Declaration of Independence, and affixed his signature to the engrossed copy of that memorable instrument.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of engross.

Other Word Forms

• engrossedly
  adverb
• self-engrossed
  adjective
• unengrossed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of engrossed

engross ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

When you’re engrossed in something, you’re so consumed by it that you don’t notice anything else, like when you’re engrossed in a conversation with that cute girl from your math class. Use the adjective engrossed to describe someone who is completely absorbed in something, whether it’s a task, a person, or an object. You might be engrossed in a movie that’s so good you just can’t look away, or you can be engrossed in talking to someone — like the girl from math class. Engrossed is often used with “in” — so you’d say you were “engrossed in” a book or “engrossed in” your homework.

Example Sentences

In 2021, state lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5193 to improve the experience of people seeking unemployment benefits.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2022

Engrossed in the book, it took several moments to come back to the present and hear my mother's voice calling me from another room.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2021

Engrossed in an hourslong conversation, we ignored everyone else all afternoon until I let him walk me home.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2018

Engrossed by Bynes’ psychiatric odyssey, I was surprised by how quickly I joined the diagnostic guessing game for a person I had never even met.

From Slate • Nov. 25, 2014

Engrossed in conversation, they never saw the man lurking on the other side of the street in front of the hotel.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• absorbed
• captivated
• consumed
• engaged
• enthralled
• submerged