absorbed
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for absorbed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Completely focused on something, to the exclusion of everything else.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use absorbed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
absorbed in thought
fully absorbed
absorbed into
Etymology
The past participle of absorb, formed with the standard -ed ending.
Full origin of absorbed →Frequently asked questions
What does “absorbed” mean?
The word “absorbed” means completely focused on something, to the exclusion of everything else. In plain terms, either deeply engrossed in something mentally, or physically soaked/taken in.
How do you pronounce “absorbed”?
“Absorbed” is pronounced ab-SAWRBD (/æbˈsɔɹbd/ in IPA).
How do you use “absorbed” in a sentence?
Here is “absorbed” used in a sentence: “He was so absorbed in the game he missed his stop.”
What part of speech is “absorbed”?
“Absorbed” is an adjective.
Is “absorbed” a common word?
“Absorbed” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “absorbed” have?
“Absorbed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely focused on something, to the exclusion of everything else.
What is the difference between 'absorbed' and 'engrossed'?
Both describe being deeply focused on something and are often interchangeable. 'Engrossed' stresses that all of a person's attention is taken up, while 'absorbed' similarly means fully caught up in something, usually followed by 'in', as in 'absorbed in her work'.
What preposition follows 'absorbed'?
When 'absorbed' means deeply focused, it is followed by 'in', as in 'absorbed in a book'. When it means soaked up or taken in, it can take 'by' or 'into', as in 'the water was absorbed by the sponge'.
What is the difference between 'absorbed' and 'distracted'?
'Absorbed' and 'distracted' are near opposites when describing attention. Being absorbed means being completely focused on one thing, while being distracted means having your attention pulled away from what you were doing.
Is 'self-absorbed' the same as 'absorbed'?
No. 'Absorbed' on its own means deeply focused on something outside yourself, such as a task or a book. 'Self-absorbed' means preoccupied with your own thoughts and interests to the point of ignoring others, and it is usually meant as a criticism.
