Synonyms

engrossing

American

[en-groh-sing] / ɛnˈgroʊ sɪŋ /

adjective

fully occupying the mind or attention; absorbing.

I'm reading the most engrossing book.

Other Word Forms

engrossingly adverb
nonengrossing adjective
nonengrossingly adverb
unengrossing adjective

Etymology

Origin of engrossing

First recorded in 1475–85; engross + -ing ²

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.

Northampton were given a stern examination of their Champions Cup credentials by impressive Castres as they came out on top of an engrossing contest to book their place in the quarter-finals.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

He’s both movie-star hunky and action-star engrossing, flitting between these two deceptively binary ends without breaking a sweat.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

It was an incredible conclusion to an engrossing encounter, one that has repeatedly delivered drama in Guardiola's past tussles with Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The chief exception: the Getty, where its Brentwood anchor and Pacific Palisades outpost accounted for three of the 10 most engrossing museum exhibitions in 2025, all 10 presented here in order of their opening dates.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Debussy, along with twenty-eight million other visitors, spent an engrossing time wandering around the exotic installations from distant continents.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023