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. )

Example Sentences

Time had a way of evaporating instantly when he was engrossed in an interesting project, such as cataloging his baseball cards, or reading a good mystery.

From Literature

Sid Bellows was too engrossed in perusing pictures of women on the Silver Singles dating site to pay the boy any mind.

From Literature

He wears a thick scarf and appears engrossed in a book.

From Literature

Mr. Steele is also engrossed by the meltdown at the Heritage Foundation.

From The Wall Street Journal

For much of the summer, though, he was engrossed in something else.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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