Absorb Absorbed Work Absorbing Verb Bre əbˈzɔːb əbˈzɔːrb

• plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
• let the rice cook until it has absorbed all the water.
• the cream is easily absorbed into the skin.
• the country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.

absorb

1. to take in a liquid, gas or other substance from the surface or space around
• Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
• Let the rice cook until it has absorbed all the water.
• The cream is easily absorbed into the skin.
2. to make something smaller become part of something larger
• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.
• The surrounding small towns have been absorbed into the city.
3. to take something into the mind and learn or understand it
• synonym take somethingin
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/take-in
• It's a lot of information to absorb all at once.
• It took me several days to absorb the fact of her death.
• They spent a week in Paris just absorbing the atmosphere.
4. to interest somebody very much so that they pay no attention to anything else
• synonym engross
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/engross
• This work had absorbed him for several years.
5. to take in and keep heat, light, energy, etc. instead of reflecting it
• Black walls absorb a lot of heat during the day.
6. to reduce the effect of a blow, hit, etc.
• see also shock absorber
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/shock-absorber
• This tennis racket absorbs shock on impact.
• The bats have graphite shafts that absorb the vibration.
7. to use up a large supply of something, especially money or time
• The new proposals would absorb $80 billion of the federal budget.
8. to deal with changes, effects, costs, etc.
• The company is unable to absorb such huge losses.

Extra Examples

• Concrete absorbs very little moisture.
• He stood still, absorbing every detail of the scene.
• His work absorbed him completely.
• It was great to sit back and absorb the atmosphere.
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.
• The information is presented so that it can be readily absorbed.
• These committees were gradually absorbed into the local government machine.
• My work absorbs a great deal of my time.
• She was completely absorbed in the task.
• The new proposals would absorb $80 million of the federal budget.
• The work had absorbed him for several years.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they absorb
• he / she / it absorbs
• past simple absorbed
• past participle absorbed
• -ing form absorbing

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Latin absorbere, from ab- ‘from’ + sorbere ‘suck in’.