absorb
verb (used with object)
to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up.
was absorbing
-
past progressiveof absorb.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
By monitoring how gas concentrations changed inside these chambers, the researchers could determine whether the soil was absorbing methane and calculate how much was being removed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
When they faced one another it was absorbing - two players who knew each other's games inside out, from years spent on the practice courts in Compton, California.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
“Maybe I was absorbing too much as actual lessons on how to live my life and how to interact with regular society.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
He was absorbing daily criticism from fans, while trying not to succumb to internal self-flagellation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2025
Her makeup was absorbing the lighting in a fascinating way, which made her look almost ultraviolet.
From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer
