absorbing

[ ab-sawr-bing, -zawr- ]

/ æbˈsɔr bɪŋ, -ˈzɔr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absorbing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extremely interesting; deeply engrossing: an absorbing drama.

Nearby words

Origin of absorbing

First recorded in 1745–55; absorb + -ing²

Related formsab·sorb·ing·ly, adverbnon·ab·sorb·ing, adjectiveun·ab·sorb·ing, adjectiveun·ab·sorb·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for absorbing (2 of 2)

absorb

[ ab-sawrb, -zawrb ]

/ æbˈsɔrb, -ˈzɔrb /

verb (used with object)

to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up: A sponge absorbs water.

to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate: The empire absorbed many small nations.

to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly: so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell.

to occupy or fill: This job absorbs all of my time.

to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action: Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide.

to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection: to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock.

to take in and utilize: The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information?

to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.): The company will absorb all the research costs.

Archaic. to swallow up.

Origin of absorb

1480–90; < Latin absorbēre, equivalent to ab- ab- + sorbēre to suck in, swallow

SYNONYMS FOR absorb

2 assimilate, consume, devour, engulf; destroy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absorb ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ab·sorb·a·ble, adjectiveab·sorb·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·ab·sorb·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·ab·sorb·a·ble, adjective

o·ver·ab·sorb, verb (used with object)pre·ab·sorb, verbre·ab·sorb, verb (used with object)un·ab·sorb·a·ble, adjective

Can be confusedabsorb adsorb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for absorbing

He pauses, absorbing the sunshine streaming into his garden.
Anime King Hayao Miyazaki’s Cursed Dreams|Melissa Leon|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We know that Mockingbird, played by Adrianne Palicki, will be making an appearance, as well as the Absorbing Man.
The Leaner, Meaner Season 2 of ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’|Jason Lynch|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her time with Dr. Simpson formed “the happiest and most absorbing years” of her life.
Death Became Her: Molly Lefebure’s Wartime Years of Murder and Suicide|Tim Teeman|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But for a truly intimate and absorbing experience, head over to Studio Theater on 14th Street.
A Local’s Guide to D.C. During the Holidays|William O’Connor|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

His contempt for judges and politicians was so absorbing that I read the book in two sittings.
One Lawyer’s Quest to Right New Orleans’ Wrongs|Jason Berry|November 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The despatch of the Salonika force and their outfit are absorbing all my energies.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2|Ian Hamilton
He knows the absorbing interest of the South in Western matters.
The Little Lady of Lagunitas|Richard Henry Savage
This it does more or less slowly by absorbing moisture from the air.
Manures and the principles of manuring|Charles Morton Aikman
No harvesting- or pottery-work is possible with these absorbing doorkeeping-functions.
Bramble-bees and Others|J. Henri Fabre
The clue to that sad and painful mystery which was absorbing her life seemed almost in her grasp.
Cast Adrift|T. S. Arthur

British Dictionary definitions for absorbing (1 of 2)

absorbing

/ (əbˈsɔːbɪŋ, -ˈzɔːb-) /

adjective

occupying one's interest or attention; engrossing; gripping

Derived Formsabsorbingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for absorbing (2 of 2)

absorb

/ (əbˈsɔːb, -ˈzɔːb) /

verb (tr)

to soak or suck up (liquids)

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

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

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

to take in or assimilate; incorporate

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

to pay for as part of a commercial transactionthe distributor absorbed the cost of transport

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 solidporous solids absorb water; hydrochloric acid absorbs carbon dioxide Compare adsorb

Derived Formsabsorbability, nounabsorbable, adjective

Word Origin for absorb

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

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

Word Origin and History for absorbing

absorb

early 15c., from Middle French absorber (Old French assorbir, 13c.), from Latin absorbere "to swallow up," from ab- "from" (see ab-) + sorbere "suck in," from PIE root *srebh- "to suck, absorb" (cf. Armenian arbi "I drank," Greek rhopheo "to sup greedily up, gulp down," Lithuanian srebiu "to drink greedily"). Figurative meaning "to completely grip (one's) attention" is from 1763. Related: Absorbed; absorbing.

Medicine definitions for absorbing

absorb

[ əb-zôrb′ ]

v.

To take in by absorption.

To reduce the intensity of transmitted light.

absorbing

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of absorbing

Definition for absorbing (2 of 2)

absorb

verb (used with object)

Origin of absorb

Examples from the Web for absorbing

British Dictionary definitions for absorbing (1 of 2)

absorbing

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for absorbing (2 of 2)

absorb

verb (tr)

Word Origin for absorb

Word Origin and History for absorbing

absorb

Medicine definitions for absorbing

absorb

v.