engrossen‧gross /ɪnˈɡrəʊs $ -ˈɡroʊs/ verb [transitive] 
The scene was stunning, and for a time engrossed all our attention.engross yourself in something Take your mind off it by engrossing yourself in a good book.—engrossed adjective: Dad was engrossed in the paper. Who’s that guy Ally’s been engrossed in conversation with all night?—engrossing adjective
WORD ORIGINengross
Origin:
1300-1400 Anglo-French engrosser, from French en gros ‘in a mass, by wholesale’VERB TABLE
engross
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | they | engross |
| it | engrosses | |
| Past | it, they | engrossed |
| Present perfect | they | have engrossed |
| it | has engrossed | |
| Past perfect | it, they | had engrossed |
| Future | it, they | will engross |
| Future perfect | it, they | will have engrossed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | they | are engrossing |
| it | is engrossing | |
| Past | they | were engrossing |
| it | was engrossing | |
| Present perfect | they | have been engrossing |
| it | has been engrossing | |
| Past perfect | it, they | had been engrossing |
| Future | it, they | will be engrossing |
| Future perfect | it, they | will have been engrossing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The murder trial had engrossed the small northern Ohio city for months.
- Both these areas of the mind grow rapidly and engross a person's thoughts.
- Fifty years later, it provides a remarkably smooth and engrossing ride to its tragic destination.
- I was constantly engrossed by the problems of time, space, quality, and the other categories of reason.
- Mattie grunted abstractedly, totally engrossed in peering at the various plastic containers and bowls in the refrigerator.
- She'd been so engrossed that she hadn't heard him come in.
- She waved, but Dawn didn't see her, being too engrossed in stuffing the flowers into a large carrier bag.
- Then, discarding me like a broken toy, they clustered around Fred Kowalski, engrossed in baseball cards.
- They want to be engrossed by your speech; they want the occasion to be a success.
Longman Language Activatorso interested that you give all your attention to something
so interested in something that you give it all your attention and do not notice or pay attention to other things: absorbed in: · Penny and Sam were so absorbed in their game, that they didn't hear me call.· Dad was obviously far too absorbed in his own difficulties to be interested in mine.· I saw Bill walking across the park, absorbed in his own thoughts.
extremely interested by a book, film, event etc or by what someone is saying, so that you cannot stop reading, watching, listening etc: · It was a brilliant documentary. I sat absolutely riveted from beginning to end.· I was completely gripped as soon as I opened the book. gripped/riveted by: · We stopped the car, riveted by the sight of a village wedding in progress.
extremely interested in something such as a book or your work, so that you do not notice anything that is happening around you: · As she worked, she became so engrossed that she lost all sense of time.engrossed in: · Jane was sitting in bed, engrossed in a novel.· They appeared to be engrossed in their conversation and I didn't want to disturb them.
to be too interested in something, so that you cannot stop thinking about it or spending your time on it: · He spends all his time fiddling about with cars - he's completely obsessed.obsessed by/with: · As an artist, he was obsessed with sex and death.· People seem to be obsessed by health issues these days.become obsessed: · She became obsessed with the idea of making money.
very interested and excited by a story or by something that you see or hear, so that you give all your attention to it: · From the opening line of the play, the audience was completely enthralled.listen/watch etc enthralled: · We listened enthralled as she told us the story of her life.enthralled by: · I was completely enthralled by the world of the theatre, and knew that I wanted to act.
also mesmerised British unable to stop looking at something or listening to someone because they completely keep your attention: · She stood there mesmerized as he picked up the gun and turned it slowly towards her.mesmerized by: · It was as if the audience was completely mesmerized by the small figure on the stage.
so interested by something, especially something strange or wonderful, that you are unable to move or think of anything else: listen/watch/wait etc spellbound: · Millions of Japanese listened spellbound as they heard the Emperor speak in public for the first time.spellbound by: · On clear nights we were spellbound by the strange flickering of the Northern lights in the sky.held somebody spellbound: · The Firebird is a magical ballet that still holds audiences spellbound.
spoken to be extremely interested in what someone is telling you, and listen very carefully to it: · Tell me exactly what happened. I'm all ears.· Everyone was all ears as soon as I mentioned a cash prize.
so interesting that you cannot stop watching, reading etc a film, book etc that is riveting or gripping is so interesting or exciting that you do not want to stop watching it, reading it etc: · The novel is absolutely riveting from start to finish.· The story is a riveting one about two children who find an adventure game which becomes real as they are playing it.· Hitchcock's film "The Birds' is a brilliant psychological thriller with a gripping climax.· The play is never quite interesting or gripping enough in the right places despite the considerable efforts of the actors.
spoken say this about a book that was so enjoyable that you did not want to stop reading it: · What an amazing book! I just couldn't put it down.
written a film, book etc that is compelling is so interesting that you feel you must keep watching or reading it: · The film was so compelling I could scarcely take my eyes off the screen for a second.· Orwell's 'Burmese Days' is a compelling account of life under British Colonial rule.
something that is engrossing , such as a book or your work, is so interesting that you do not notice anything that is happening around you: · In his latest novel, Martin Amis gives us an engrossing tale of human trauma.· The daydream was so engrossing that she almost failed to notice Peter waving to her from the other side of the road.
a story, film, game etc that is mesmerizing or enthralling is very interesting and exciting, so that you give all your attention to it: · The band incorporates Spanish, Latin American and Middle Eastern influences into a powerful, mesmerizing mix.· Visitors to the show will find it an enthralling experience.· Sergei Rebrov scored the goal that finally ended an enthralling match.
a story, film, piece of music etc that is spellbinding is so original or interesting that you are unable to think about anything else while you are reading it, watching it etc: · One of the President's most spellbinding TV performances came on 27 July.· What she reveals in this novel is a spellbinding tale of her life in China.
a book whose story is so interesting that you do not want to stop reading it and are very eager to find out what happens next: · Stephen King's latest novel promises to be another page-turner.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Dad was engrossed in the paper. Who’s that guy Ally’s been engrossed in conversation with all night?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
if something engrosses you, it interests you so much that you do not notice anything else: Dad was engrossed in the paper. Who’s that guy Ally’s been engrossed in conversation with all night?· She'd been so engrossed that she hadn't heard him come in.· She says she usually gets so engrossed that she doesn't hear conversations anywhere near her.· The spawning fish are usually so engrossed in their own activities that will hardly notice the flash going off.
NOUN· He was seemingly engrossed in conversation, although she couldn't see with whom because of the milling crowd round the doorway.
The scene was stunning, and for a time engrossed all our attention.engross yourself in something Take your mind off it by engrossing yourself in a good book.—engrossed adjective: Dad was engrossed in the paper. Who’s that guy Ally’s been engrossed in conversation with all night?—engrossing adjective