absorb in English dictionary

  • absorb

    Meanings and definitions of "absorb"

    • (transitive) To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to incorporate; to assimilate.
    • (transitive) To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body.
    • (transitive) To learn
    • (transitive) To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or in the pursuit of wealth.
    • (transitive) To consume completely.
    • (transitive) To endure.
    • (transitive) (physics) To take up by chemical or physical action.
    • (transitive, business) To assume or pay for as part of a commercial transaction.
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]Brown, Lesley, editor (1933) The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7, published 2003, page 9
    • verb
      (transitive, obsolete)
      To engulf, as in water; to swallow up. [Attested from the late 15 th century until the late 18 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body; to chemically take in. [First attested in the early 17 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive, physics, chemistry)
      To take in energy and convert it, as[First attested in the early 18 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or in the pursuit of wealth. [First attested in the late 18 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To occupy or consume time. [First attested in the mid 19 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive)
      Assimilate mentally. [First attested in the late 19 th century.]
    • verb
      (transitive, business)
      To assume or pay for as part of a commercial transaction.
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To defray the costs.
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To accept or purchase in quantity.
    • to include so that it no longer has separate existence (1)
    • to suck up or drink in (2)
    • to learn (3)
    • to occupy fully (4)
    • to consume completely (5)
    • to endure (6)
    • physics: to take up by chemical or physical action (7)
    • finance: to assume or pay for (8)
    • To completely consume.
    • squeeze (money)
    • To include so that it no longer has separate existence.
    • verb
      assimilate or take in; "The immigrants were quickly absorbed into society"
    • verb
      become imbued; "The liquids, light, and gases absorb"
    • verb
      cause to become one with; "The sales tax is absorbed into the state income tax"
    • verb
      consume all of one's attention or time; "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely"
    • verb
      devote (oneself) fully to; "He immersed himself into his studies"
    • verb
      suck or take up or in; "A black star absorbs all matter"
    • verb
      take in, also metaphorically; "The sponge absorbs water well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words"
    • verb
      take up, as of debts or payments; "absorb the costs for something"
    • verb
      take up mentally; "he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe"

    Synonyms of "absorb" in English dictionary

    acquire, larn, sop up are the top synonyms of "absorb" in the English thesaurus.

    Antonyms of "absorb" in English dictionary

    emit is the antonym of "absorb" in the English thesaurus.

    Grammar and declension of absorb

    • absorb ( third-person singular simple present absorbs, present participle absorbing, simple past and past participle absorbed)
    • absorb (third-person singular simple present absorbs, present participle absorbing, simple past and past participle absorbed or (archaic) absorpt) ;; Conjugation of absorb
      infinitive (to) absorb
      present tense past tense
      1st person singular absorb absorbed
      2nd person singular absorb,
      absorbest1
      3rd person singular absorbs,
      absorbeth1
      plural absorb
      subjunctive absorb
      imperative absorb
      participles absorbing absorbed
      1) Archaic or obsolete.
  • ABSORB
  • Absorb

Sample sentences with "absorb"