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Showing results for absorbent. Search instead for absorbents.
Synonyms

absorbent

American  
[ab-sawr-buhnt, -zawr-] / æbˈsɔr bənt, -ˈzɔr- /

adjective

  1. capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.


noun

  1. something that absorbs.

    Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.

absorbent British  
/ əbˈsɔːbənt, -ˈzɔː- /

adjective

  1. able to absorb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a substance that absorbs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of absorbent

First recorded in 1710–20, absorbent is from the Latin word absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre ). See absorb, -ent


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:

Once the reflective white snow coverage from winter is gone from the top of the glacier, the darker, more absorbent grey surface of the bare ice is exposed.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

When exposed to a focused beam of electrons, specific regions of the film become more or less absorbent.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026

And then, of course, there is the absorbent core—which holds what scientists refer to as the “insult.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Tucked within most of them were even shorter absorbent layers, which are meant to soak up menstrual flow.

From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2024

And now I could see the doll only vaguely and drops of moisture were thudding down upon its absorbent paper .

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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