absorb
Americanverb (used with object)
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absorbs,
present (3rd person singular)
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absorbed,
past participle, past
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absorbing
present participle
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to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up.
A sponge absorbs water.
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to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate.
The empire absorbed many small nations.
- Synonyms:
- destroy, engulf, devour, consume, assimilate
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to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly.
so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell.
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to occupy or fill.
This job absorbs all of my time.
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to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action.
Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide.
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to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection.
to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock.
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to take in and utilize.
The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information?
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to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.).
The company will absorb all the research costs.
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Archaic. to swallow up.
verb
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to soak or suck up (liquids)
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to engage or occupy (the interest, attention, or time) of (someone); engross
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to receive or take in (the energy of an impact)
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physics to take in (all or part of incident radiated energy) and retain the part that is not reflected or transmitted
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to take in or assimilate; incorporate
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to accept and find a market for (goods, etc)
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to pay for as part of a commercial transaction
the distributor absorbed the cost of transport
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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
Derived Forms
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absorbabilitynoun
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nonabsorbabilitynoun
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preabsorbverb
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overabsorbverb (used with object)
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reabsorbverb (used with object)
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absorbableadjective
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nonabsorbableadjective
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unabsorbableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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absorbsimple
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absorbssimple
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have absorbedperfect
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has absorbedperfect
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am absorbingprogressive
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are absorbingprogressive
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is absorbingprogressive
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have been absorbingperfect progressive
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has been absorbingperfect progressive
Past
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absorbedsimple
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had absorbedperfect
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was absorbingprogressive
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were absorbingprogressive
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had been absorbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of absorb
First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- + sorbēre “to suck in, swallow”
Explanation
To absorb is to take in or suck up like a sponge. If you don't hear your mother calling because you are reading, you could say you were absorbed in the book. If your parents buy groceries for a party you are throwing and don't make you pay, you could say that they decided to absorb the cost of the food. Young minds absorb information easily. The word, absorbent, describes something that is capable of absorbing something else. When you go swimming on a chilly day, it's best to carry an absorbent towel so that all of the water is absorbed from the surface of your skin.
Vocabulary lists containing absorb
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Last year Indiana offered to open its doors to the disaffected counties, and absorb all the Illinois residents who wanted to break away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
"User funds remain safe. Binance will absorb the financial impact of the stolen funds, not our users," it said on X.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
“Binance will absorb the financial impact of the stolen funds, not our users,” the company said Sunday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
"Binance will absorb the financial impact of these stolen funds, not our users," the company said in a statement on Saturday.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
The earth barely had a chance to absorb the rainwater before the next deluge.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
When we see Ho-seok scolded at a grueling new job for endangering himself, he mutely absorbs it and shuffles to the side.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
But the number on the label does not necessarily match the calories your body actually absorbs.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Bare ice is darker and less reflective than fresh snow, so absorbs more of the Sun's energy.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
The first-class seat cushion absorbs my weight as the plane takes off, bound for the small city that will soon be in the spotlight.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
Such interactions can cause neutrinos to scatter or be absorbed, providing scientists with a way to detect them.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
Only once the soil is wet, does it start to be properly absorbed by the deeper groundwater stores.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Yet Indigenous and enslaved African populations did not simply take on these symbols of subjugation; they absorbed and subverted them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Equity investors have already piled into SpaceX’s listing this summer, absorbed a nearly $85 billion equity raise by Google parent Alphabet and are currently being plied by Meta Platforms for more cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Matilda happened to be curled up in an arm-chair in the corner, totally absorbed in a book.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
Two intrepid teens head into the unknown on an absorbing, densely detailed rescue mission — not for the especially young — that stuns at every turn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
The charity, which redistributes surplus food to about 70 organisations across the region, said it was facing the challenge of meeting growing demand while absorbing higher operating costs.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
"The difference here is, the thing absorbing matter is not a tiny black hole but a star, which is relatively big in size," Burdge explains.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
“Funny,” Brett remarks, absorbing quickly the nuances of bullfights, “how one doesn’t mind the blood.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
As always, Barack was absorbing every bit of news carefully, going about his regular business while quietly developing his own thoughts about it all.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
