absorb

[ ab-sawrb, -zawrb ]

verb (used with object)

1. to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up:

   A sponge absorbs water.

2. to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate:

   The empire absorbed many small nations.

   Synonyms: destroy, engulf, devour, consume, assimilate

3. to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly:

   so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell.

4. to occupy or fill:

   This job absorbs all of my time.

5. to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action:

   Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide.

6. to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection:

   to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock.

7. to take in and utilize:

   The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information?

8. to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.):

   The company will absorb all the research costs.

9. Archaic. to swallow up.

absorb

/ əbˈsɔːb; -ˈzɔːb /

verb

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. chem 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 Compare adsorb

   hydrochloric acid absorbs carbon dioxide

   porous solids absorb water

Derived Forms

• abˌsorbaˈbility, noun
• abˈsorbable, adjective

Other Words From

• ab·sorba·ble adjective
• ab·sorba·bili·ty noun
• nonab·sorba·bili·ty noun
• nonab·sorba·ble adjective
• over·ab·sorb verb (used with object)
• preab·sorb verb
• reab·sorb verb (used with object)
• unab·sorba·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of absorb¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- + sorbēre “to suck in, swallow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of absorb¹

C15: via Old French from Latin absorbēre to suck, swallow, from ab- ¹+ sorbēre to suck

Example Sentences

"There’s no way a sector like ours can carry this level of cost and just absorb it as profit," he added.

From BBC

There has been a growing backlash from firms to the higher costs they face from the Budget, but chancellor Rachel Reeves has said "businesses will have to absorb some of this through profits".

From BBC

"We just need to make sure that the immediate impact of all these things doesn’t come in one big lump and that the economy has time to absorb these changes in a way that doesn’t fuel inflation," Mr Higginson told the BBC's Today programme.

From BBC

He reiterated the UK government's stance that Western allies would be resolute for "as long as it takes" adding: "That’s the message President Putin has to absorb and the reassurance for President Zelensky."

From BBC

"That’s the message President Putin has to absorb and the reassurance for President Zelensky," he told the programme.

From BBC

Related Words

• assimilate
• follow
• get
• incorporate
• learn
• take in
• understand