absorb

verb

ab·​sorb əb-ˈsȯrb  -ˈzȯrb 

absorbed; absorbing; absorbs

transitive verb

1

a

: to take in (something, such as water) in a natural or gradual way

a sponge absorbs water

charcoal absorbs gas

plant roots absorb water

b

: to take in (knowledge, attitudes, etc.) : acquire, learn

… convictions absorbed in youth …

—M. R. Cohen

c

: use up, consume

The fever absorbed her strength.

His work absorbs all his time and attention.

2

: to take in and make part of an existent whole

the capacity of a country to absorb new immigrants

3

: to engage or engross wholly

an interest that absorbs her completely

absorbed in thought

4

a(1)

: to receive without recoil or echo

provided with a sound-absorbing surface

(2)

: endure, sustain

absorbing hardships

(3)

: assume, bear

The expenses were absorbed by the company.

b

: to transform (radiant energy) into a different form especially with a resulting rise in temperature

The earth absorbs the sun's rays.

absorbability

əb-ˌsȯr-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌzȯr-

noun

absorbable

əb-ˈsȯr-bə-bəl  -ˈzȯr- 

adjective

Synonyms

• drink
• imbibe
• soak (up)
• sponge
• suck (up)
• take up

Examples of absorb in a Sentence

a fabric that absorbs sweat

The walls are made of a material that absorbs sound.

absorbing heat from the sun

She is good at absorbing information.

He has retained the values that he absorbed as a young man.

a country that has absorbed many immigrants

smaller countries invaded and absorbed by bigger ones

His interest in photography absorbs him completely.

I was so absorbed by her story that I lost track of time.

Recent Examples on the Web

This became the hope, and the promise, of comedy as standup exploded in popularity in the latter half of the twentieth century, its cadences absorbed into other realms of American entertainment, from late night to the sitcom. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025

Similarly, 300-unit market-rate buildings have lower costs per unit than 40-unit buildings that absorb the cost of federal funds and the inefficient system that is LIHTC. —Marisa Novara, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025

Thanks to another clutch performance from their captain, the Knicks get to absorb their lessons from the win column rather than the loss column. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025

With Banana Plantation, a man is centered within the dense, green leaves of the banana groves, as if he’s being absorbed into the vegetation. —Emi Eleode, ARTnews.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French assorber, absorber, asorbir, absorbir, going back to Old French, borrowed (with conjugation changes) from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- + sorbēre "to suck up, draw in, engulf," going back to Indo-European *sṛb^h-eii̯̯e-, probably re-formed from *srob^h-eii̯̯e-, iterative derivative from the verb base *sreb^h- "suck up, drink noisily"; akin to Greek rophéō, ropheîn "to drink in gulps," Armenian arbi "drank," Lithuanian srebiù, srė̃bti "to gulp," Old Russian sereblyu, serebati

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for absorb

• adsorb
• orb

Kids Definition

absorb

verb

ab·​sorb əb-ˈsȯrb  -ˈzȯrb 

1

: to take in or suck or swallow up

a sponge absorbs water

plant roots absorb water

2

: to hold the interest of : engross

absorbed in thought

3

a

: to receive without giving back

a sound-absorbing surface

b

: to transform (radiant energy) into a different form usually with a resulting rise in temperature

the earth absorbs the sun's rays

absorbability

əb-ˌsȯr-bə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

-ˌzȯr-

noun

absorbable

əb-ˈsȯr-bə-bəl 

-ˈzȯr-

adjective

absorber noun

Medical Definition

absorb

transitive verb

ab·​sorb əb-ˈsȯ(ə)rb  -ˈzȯ(ə)rb 

1

: to take up especially by capillary, osmotic, solvent, or chemical action

surgical sutures which can be absorbed by the body

the blood in the lungs absorbs oxygen

2

: to transform (radiant energy) into a different form usually with a resulting rise in temperature

chlorophyll reflects green light and absorbs the other colors of light

absorbable

əb-ˈsȯr-bə-bəl  -ˈzȯr- 

adjective

absorber noun

Legal Definition

absorb

transitive verb

ab·​sorb

1

: to make (a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution) applicable to the states

2

a

: to bear or assume the burden of

expenses were absorbed by the company

b

: to lessen the tax liability for

has other losses to absorb the income

—D. Q. Posin