Absorb — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /əb-ˈsȯrb/ ab·sorb

Meaning & Definition of Absorb

Absorb (verb)

  1. to take in (something, such as water) in a natural or gradual way
  2. to take in (knowledge, attitudes, etc.), acquire, learn
  3. use up, consume

Absorb (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take in (something liquid) through small openings

    "most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth"

    similar: drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up
    related: gulp, guzzle, quaff, sip, slurp, swallow, swig, swill

  2. to hold the attention of

    "chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time"

    similar: bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy, catch one's eye
    related: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

  3. to make a part of a body or system

    "local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible"

    similar: assimilate, co-opt, embody, incorporate, integrate
    related: amalgamate, blend, combine, commingle, fuse, intermingle, merge, mingle, acculturate, accustom, condition, enculturate, habituate, naturalize

  4. to make complete use of

    "cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy"

    similar: burn, consume, deplete, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, run out of
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce, eat, use, bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish, cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken, dry up, empty, blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste
    opposite: renew, replace
    near: augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save

  5. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered"

    similar: abide, accept, bear, bide (chiefly dialect), brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear (British), live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out
    related: allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)
    near: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Absorb

The most common words with a similar meaning to Absorb:

Chiefly dialect: bide
British: wear
drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy, assimilate, co-opt, embody, incorporate, integrate, burn, consume, deplete, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, abide, accept, bear, brook

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Absorb

Words with the opposite meaning of Absorb:

renew, replace

Related Words for Absorb

gulp, guzzle, quaff, sip, slurp, swallow, swig, swill, allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize, amalgamate, blend, combine, commingle, fuse, intermingle, merge, mingle

Near Antonyms of Absorb

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save, decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight

Word Forms of Absorb

Inflections: absorbed, absorbing, absorbs

Derived words: absorbability (noun), absorbable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Absorb

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 *sṛbh-eii̯̯e-, probably re-formed from *srobh-eii̯̯e-, iterative derivative from the verb base *srebh- "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

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Absorb

Frequently Asked Questions about Absorb

What does "Absorb" mean?

"Absorb" means to take in (something, such as water) in a natural or gradual way. As a verb, it is defined as: to take in (something, such as water) in a natural or gradual way. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Absorb"?

Other words for "Absorb" include drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up, bemuse and busy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Absorb" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Absorb"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Absorb". Common alternatives include drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up, bemuse, busy, catch up and engage.

What is the opposite of "Absorb"?

Antonyms of "Absorb" include renew and replace. Near antonyms include bore, jade, pall and tire.

How do you use "Absorb" in a sentence?

Examples of "Absorb" in a sentence: "most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth"; "chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time"; "local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible".

Is "Absorb" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Absorb" is a verb.

Is "Absorb" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Absorb" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Absorb"?

"Absorb" is pronounced /əb-ˈsȯrb/ and divided into syllables as ab·sorb.