Engrossing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /in-ˈgrō-siŋ/ en·gross·ing

Meaning & Definition of Engrossing

Engrossing (adjective)

  1. taking up the attention completely, absorbing

Engrossing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. holding the attention or provoking interest

    "an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans"

    similar: absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting
    related: breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling, provocative, tantalizing, emphatic, showy, splashy, striking, alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, curious, odd, unusual, weird, amazing, astonishing, astounding, eventful, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous, surprising, wonderful, wondrous, amusing, entertaining
    opposite: boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious, uninteresting
    near: operose, tiresome, tiring, wearisome, wearying, sterile, unexciting, dreary, humdrum, pedantic, pedestrian, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Engrossing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold the attention of

    "a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending"

    similar: absorbing, bemusing, busying, catching up, engaging, enthralling, enwrapping, fascinating, gripping, immersing, interesting, intriguing, involving, occupying, catching one's eye
    related: alluring, attracting, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, obsessing, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, distracting, preoccupying, hogging, monopolizing
    near: boring, jading, palling, tiring, wearying

Related Entry: Engross (verb)

Engross is a different word from Engrossing. The synonyms below are for engross, not for engrossing.

  1. to hold the attention of

    "a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending"

    similar: absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Engrossing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Engrossing:

absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting, bemusing, busying, catching up, enwrapping, occupying, catching one's eye

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Engrossing

Words with the opposite meaning of Engrossing:

boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious, uninteresting

Related Words for Engrossing

breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling, provocative, tantalizing, emphatic, showy, splashy, striking, alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, curious, odd, unusual, weird

Near Antonyms of Engrossing

operose, tiresome, tiring, wearisome, wearying, sterile, unexciting, dreary, humdrum, pedantic, pedestrian, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, jading, palling

Word Forms of Engrossing

Derived words: engrossingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Engrossing

First known use: 1749

Frequently Asked Questions about Engrossing

What does "Engrossing" mean?

"Engrossing" means taking up the attention completely, absorbing. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: taking up the attention completely, absorbing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Engrossing"?

Other words for "Engrossing" include absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, enthralling, fascinating, gripping and immersing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Engrossing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Engrossing"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Engrossing". Common alternatives include absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, interesting and intriguing.

What is the opposite of "Engrossing"?

Antonyms of "Engrossing" include boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious and uninteresting. Near antonyms include operose, tiresome, tiring and wearisome.

How do you use "Engrossing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Engrossing" in a sentence: "an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans"; "a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending".

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

"Engrossing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Engrossing"?

"Engrossing" is pronounced /in-ˈgrō-siŋ/ and divided into syllables as en·gross·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Engrossing"?

First known use: 1749.