absorb

verb

ab-SORB/æbˈsɔɹb/UKuhb-ZAWB/əbˈzɔːb/

14 meanings of absorb

1
verbtransitive
To soak up a liquid or gas, the way a sponge takes in water.
Like a sponge soaking up water from a table.
Dry paper towels absorb spilled water almost instantly.
Plant roots absorb moisture and minerals from the soil.
Similarassimilate
Oppositerepel, release
2
verbtransitive
To take in and understand new facts or ideas.
Like a sponge taking in water, your mind takes in new ideas.
Students absorb new vocabulary faster when they hear it in songs.
She absorbed the lecture's main points within minutes.
Similarassimilate, digest, internalize, grasp, learn
3
verbtransitive
To hold someone's full attention so they notice nothing else.
Like a really good story that makes you forget the time.
The mystery novel absorbed her so completely that she missed her stop.
Video games can absorb children for hours.
Similarengross, occupy, engage, captivate, preoccupy
Oppositebore
Note
4
verbtransitive
To take something in completely so it becomes part of a larger whole.
Like a big puddle spreading out and swallowing smaller puddles nearby.
The growing city slowly absorbed the small villages around it.
Larger companies often absorb their smaller rivals.
Similarincorporate, assimilate, annex, swallow, integrate
Note
5
verbtransitive
To take in energy, like light or heat, and change it into another form.
Like a dark T-shirt getting hot in the sun because it takes in the light.
Dark surfaces absorb sunlight and turn it into heat.
The black panel absorbs energy from the sun.
Similarcapture
Oppositeemit, release
Note
6
verbtransitive
To take in the force of a hit or shock so it is not passed on.
Like a soft pillow that takes the force when you drop onto it.
Good running shoes absorb the shock of each step.
The car's bumper absorbs much of the crash.
Similarcushion, soften, dampen, deaden
Oppositetransmit, amplify
Note
7
verbtransitive
To take in radiant energy, like sunlight, and change it into heat.
Like a black car seat that gets hot after sitting in the sun.
Black roads absorb sunlight and grow very hot in summer.
The dark wall absorbs heat all afternoon.
Similartrap, capture
Oppositereflect, emit
Note
8
verbtransitive
To take in sound so it does not echo or bounce back.
Like a thick blanket that makes your voice sound softer.
Thick curtains absorb sound and make the room quieter.
The padded wall absorbs most of the noise.
Similardeaden, dampen, muffle
Oppositereflect, amplify
Note
9
verbtransitive
To take up a lot of someone's time.
Like a long wait that uses up your whole morning.
Paperwork absorbs much of a teacher's day.
Long meetings absorb hours that could be spent working.
Similarconsume, take, occupy, swallow, devour
Oppositesave
10
verbtransitive
To take on and pay a cost as part of a business deal.
Like paying for a friend's bus ticket yourself instead of asking them.
The store will absorb the shipping fee for big orders.
Sellers often absorb small price increases to keep customers.
Similarbear, shoulder, cover, swallow
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin absorbeō meaning "swallow up", made from ab- "from" and sorbeō "suck in, swallow". It came into English through French.