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

In some cases, though, companies will be able to absorb tariffs or higher production costs if shifting manufacturing locations.

From Salon

The effect is even further fueled by our oceans, which absorb more than 90 percent of the heat caused by burning fossil fuels, producing water vapor that increases precipitation.

From Salon

“It’s too much, too fast for the industry to absorb.”

From Los Angeles Times

This is a region that has historically helped to buffer the world from further warming, by absorbing some of the carbon dioxide produced from human activities.

From BBC

And they also minimized the negative emotions they absorbed from their spouses.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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