Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense absorbs, present participle absorbing, past tense, past participle absorbed
1. verb
If something absorbs a liquid, gas, or other substance, it soaks it up or takes it in.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and moisture from the soil. [VERB noun]
Refined sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly. [beVERB-ed + into]
Synonyms: soak up, drink in, devour, suck up More Synonyms of absorb
2. verb
If something absorbs light, heat, or another form of energy, it takes it in.
The dark material absorbs light and warms up. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If a group is absorbedinto a larger group, it becomes part of the larger group.
The Colonial Office was absorbed into the Foreign Office. [beVERB-ed + into]
...an economy capable of absorbing thousands of immigrants. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: assimilate, take in, incorporate, accommodate More Synonyms of absorb
4. verb
If something absorbs a force or shock, it reduces its effect.
...footwear which does not absorb the impact of the foot striking the ground. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: cushion, suppress, soften, pillow More Synonyms of absorb
5. verb
If a system or society absorbs changes, effects, or costs, it is able to deal with them.
The banks would be forced to absorb large losses. [VERB noun]
We can't absorb those costs. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If something absorbs something valuable such as money, space, or time, it uses up a great deal of it.
It absorbed vast amounts of capital that could have been used for investment. [VERB noun]
It might help if campaigning didn't absorb so much time and money. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If you absorb information, you learn and understand it.
Too often he only absorbs half the information in the manual. [VERB noun]
We closed our offices at 2:00 p.m. to give employees time to absorb the bad news. [VERB noun]
8. verb
If something absorbs you, it interests you a great deal and takes up all your attention and energy.
...a second career which absorbed her more completely than her acting ever had. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: engross, hold, involve, fill More Synonyms of absorb
9. See also absorbed, absorbing
More Synonyms of absorb
absorb in British English
(əbˈsɔːb, -ˈzɔːb)
verb(transitive)
1.
to soak or suck up (liquids)
2.
to engage or occupy (the interest, attention, or time) of (someone); engross
3.
to receive or take in (the energy of an impact)
4. physics
to take in (all or part of incident radiated energy) and retain the part that is not reflected or transmitted
5.
to take in or assimilate; incorporate
6.
to accept and find a market for (goods, etc)
7.
to pay for as part of a commercial transaction
the distributor absorbed the cost of transport
8. chemistry
to cause to undergo a process in which one substance, usually a liquid or gas, permeates into or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
porous solids absorb water
hydrochloric acid absorbs carbon dioxide
Compare adsorb
Derived forms
absorbability (abˌsorbaˈbility)
noun
absorbable (abˈsorbable)
adjective
Word origin
C15: via Old French from Latin absorbēre to suck, swallow, from ab-1 + sorbēre to suck
absorb in American English
(æbˈsɔrb; æbˈzɔrb; əbˈsɔrb)
verb transitive
1.
to suck up
blotting paper absorbs ink
2.
to take up the full attention or energy of; engross
3.
to take in and incorporate; assimilate
4.
to assume the burden of (costs or expenses)
5.
to take in (a shock or jolt) with little or no recoil or reaction
6.
to take in and not reflect (light, sound, etc.)
Derived forms
absorbability (abˌsorbaˈbility)
noun
absorbable (abˈsorbable)
adjective
absorber (abˈsorber)
noun
Word origin
L absorbere < ab-, from + sorbere, to suck in: see slurp
Examples of 'absorb' in a sentence
absorb
This would allow them to absorb more carbon dioxide and boost yields.
The Sun (2016)
He rants about restaurants that serve burgers on a brioche bun, rather than something capable of absorbing the grease.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We soaked most of it up, then my wife put a bag full of salt on it to further absorb the liquid.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Simmer steadily for 20 until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice grains are swollen but a tad hard in the centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cover and cook for 10 min until peas and other veg are tender, the liquid absorbed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Iron in the first group is well absorbed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The potatoes will absorb any excess liquid overnight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The tropics absorb more solar energy than they reflect back into space.
Christianity Today (2000)
It turned out that being absorbed in something to avoid relationship problems was a family trait.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide depends on the interplay between these two factors.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide shade.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The barley will go on absorbing the liquid the longer it is left.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But roads with hedges scored well because these would absorb the energy of an impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
New trees produce more oxygen than old trees and also absorb more carbon dioxide.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Oceans are warming faster than expected and absorbing less carbon dioxide than expected.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Simmer gently until all the liquid is absorbed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As a result the earth is now absorbing more energy than it is emitting.
Oliver Morton Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet (2007)
It does wonders in reducing the carbon footprint because growing trees absorb carbon dioxide.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It claims to have come up with a formula to make concrete that actually absorbs carbon dioxide.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Simmer gently to soften and absorb all the liquid.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And most of the extra energy is absorbed by the depths of the oceans.
The Sun (2012)
While some gas is absorbed in the blood, most comes out through the mouth or backside.
The Sun (2012)
In addition, charcoal granules will absorb noxious gases.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Here, man can become so absorbed in something small that time flies by.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Greenhouse gas: some gases can absorb infrared radiation and retain it in the atmosphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I look over my shoulder and there she is, instantly absorbed by a group of smoking men and women.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When people are upset they need to try to escape from that by getting absorbed in something totally different, which will give them some intellectual pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In theory, the gas is absorbed into the bloodstream where it can be used according to the body's needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Walking around the streets of a busy town at night as a street pastor, ready to pick up and absorb something of the chaos and human mess?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
absorb
British English: absorb VERB
If something absorbs a liquid, gas, or other substance, it soaks it up or takes it in.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and moisture from the soil.
American English: absorb
Brazilian Portuguese: absorver
Chinese: 吸收 > 液体、气体等
European Spanish: absorber
French: absorber
German: aufnehmen
Italian: assorbire
Japanese: 吸収する
Korean: 흡수하다
European Portuguese: absorver
Latin American Spanish: absorber
Chinese translation of 'absorb'
absorb
(əbˈzɔːb)
vt
[liquid, light]吸收 (xīshōu)
[shock, impact, sound]消减(減) (xiāojiǎn)
(= assimilate)[group, business]并(並)入 (bìngrù)
(= cope with)[effects, losses]承受 (chéngshòu)
[information, facts]理解 (lǐjiě)
to be absorbed in a book专(專)心致志地读(讀)一本书(書) (zhuān xīn zhì zhì de dú yī běn shū)
1 (verb)
Definition
to soak up a liquid
Refined sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.
Synonyms
soak up
drink in
devour
He devoured 17 novels during his tour of India.
suck up
receive
digest
She read everything, digesting every fragment of news.
imbibe
He'd imbibed a set of mystical beliefs from the cradle.
ingest
osmose
2 (verb)
Definition
to take in or incorporate
The team is capable of absorbing some difficult individuals.
Synonyms
assimilate
My mind could only assimilate one possibility at a time.
take in
incorporate
The agreement allowed the rebels to be incorporated into the police force.
accommodate
Students are accommodated in homes nearby.
homogenize
intermix
3 (verb)
Definition
to receive the force of an impact
footwear to absorb the impact of a hard pavement
Synonyms
cushion
He spoke gently, trying to cushion the blow of rejection.
suppress
She surpressed a smile at the thought.
soften
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
pillow
bolster
a number of measures intended to bolster morale
stifle
Critics have accused them of trying to stifle debate.
dampen
Nothing seemed to dampen his enthusiasm.
muffle
I held a handkerchief over my mouth to muffle my voice.
buttress
deaden
They managed to deaden the sound.
4 (verb)
The campaign absorbed vast amounts of capital.
Synonyms
consume
Some refrigerators consume 70 per cent less electricity than the least efficient models.
use
You used all the ice cubes and didn't put the ice trays back.
use up
spend
My stepson was spending money like it grew on trees.
waste
a cruel disease which wastes the muscles
employ
Your time could be usefully employed in attending to business matters.
drain
Deficits drain resources from the pool of national savings.
exhaust
We have exhausted almost all our food supplies.
squander
He had squandered his chances to win.
utilize
Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques.
expend
the number of calories you expend through exercise
eat up
fritter away
5 (verb)
Definition
to engage the interest of someone
a second career which absorbed her more completely than acting ever had
Synonyms
engross
There's something about them which engrosses the public.
hold
Didn't it hold your attention?
involve
fill
a widowed father struggling to fill the role of both parents
arrest
As he reached the hall, he saw what had arrested her.
fix
occupy
I had other matters to occupy me that day.
engage
She tried to engage me in conversation.
fascinate
She fascinated us, on and off stage.
preoccupy
a question that continues to preoccupy the more serious papers
engulf
He was engulfed by a feeling of emptiness.
fill up
immerse
I was able to immerse myself in family life.
rivet
captivate
I was captivated by her sparkling personality.
monopolize
They monopolized my time, to the exclusion of my colleagues.
enwrap
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accommodate
Definition
to provide with lodgings
Students are accommodated in homes nearby.
Synonyms
house,
put up,
take in,
lodge,
board,
quarter,
shelter,
entertain,
harbour,
cater for,
billet
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to catch and hold (one's attention)
As he reached the hall, he saw what had arrested her.