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

/ -ˈzɔːb; əbˈsɔːb /

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. See adsorb
   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

Derived Forms

• abˈsorbable, adjective
• abˌsorbaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ab·sorba·ble adjective
• ab·sorba·bili·ty noun
• nonab·sorba·bili·ty noun
• nonab·sorba·ble adjective
• over·ab·sorb verb (used with object)
• preab·sorb verb
• reab·sorb verb (used with object)
• unab·sorba·ble 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

The meat was almost blackened by the time it absorbed the smoke, and while the skin was crisp, it gave way between my teeth.

From Eater

With a more extensive root system, plants can absorb more nutrients and pump more exudates into the soil to recruit more helpful microbes that can make more indole-3-acetic acid.

From Nautilus

A few amphibians don’t bother with lungs and instead absorb oxygen through their skin.

From Science News For Students

Even with an increase in volume, the system has space to absorb more passengers and still perform well.

From Fortune

I wanted to learn as much as I could about the trail and, as an educator, he was happy to give me as much information as I could absorb.

From Outside Online

Similar reinforced plinths were developed by the Getty museums in Los Angeles to absorb the seismic movements there.

From The Daily Beast

In the book, you say “Absorb youth and you will be absorbed by youth.”

From The Daily Beast

But the details of this massacre have been especially difficult to absorb.

From The Daily Beast

It gave me license to pore over raw tape, again and again, to absorb the subtle clues of human behavior.

From The Daily Beast

“I welcome China to Africa because Africa is big enough to absorb China,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Never smoke when the pores are open: they absorb, and you are unfit for decent society.

From Project Gutenberg

It was with much amazement that they watched Henrietta absorb sandwiches, cake, eggs, and fruit.

From Project Gutenberg

Here one can be alive and absorb something of the earth-forces that never get within touching distance in the cities.

From Project Gutenberg

The recent researches of Brustlein have shown that lime does cause the organic matters to absorb ammonia from its salts.

From Project Gutenberg

Should it still be too moist to be sown, it must be again turned over, and mixed with some dry substance to absorb the moisture.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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