absorb
uhb-ZAWB
Absorb (verb) means to soak up a liquid, gas, or other substance. Example: “The towel quickly absorbed the spilled water.”
verb
1
To soak up a liquid, gas, or other substance.
"The towel quickly absorbed the spilled water."
"Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air."
"Dry soil will absorb the rain within minutes of the shower."
2
To take in and reduce the force of an impact, sound, or shock.
"The bumper is designed to absorb the force of a collision."
"Thick carpet helps absorb the noise of footsteps on the stairs."
"Good running shoes absorb much of the shock when your foot hits the ground."
3
To fully occupy someone's attention or interest.
"The novel absorbed her for the entire flight."
"The puzzle absorbed him so completely that he forgot to eat lunch."
"She was absorbed in her painting and never heard the doorbell."
4
To take on a cost so that others don't have to pay it.
"The company absorbed the extra shipping costs itself."
"The shop absorbed the rise in supplier costs rather than raise its prices."
"We will absorb the delivery fee, so you pay nothing extra."
How to use absorb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take something in fully — a liquid into a sponge, an impact into a cushion, a cost into a budget, or attention into a good book.
Common pairings
absorb the shock
absorb information
absorb the cost
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- absorbs
- Past tense
- absorbed, absorpt
- Archaic forms
- absorbest, absorbedst, absorbeth
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The towel quickly _____ the spilled water.
Etymology
From Latin absorbeo, "to swallow up," combining ab- ("from") with sorbeo ("to suck in"), from an ancient root meaning "to sip."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “absorb” mean?
The word “absorb” means to soak up a liquid, gas, or other substance. In plain terms, to take something in fully — a liquid into a sponge, an impact into a cushion, a cost into a budget, or attention into a good book.
How do you pronounce “absorb”?
“Absorb” is pronounced uhb-ZAWB (/æbˈsɔɹb/ in IPA).
How do you use “absorb” in a sentence?
Here is “absorb” used in a sentence: “The towel quickly absorbed the spilled water.”
What is another word for “absorb”?
Words with a similar meaning to “absorb” include bear, pay for and take in.
What is the opposite of “absorb”?
The opposite of “absorb” — its antonyms — is emit.
What part of speech is “absorb”?
“Absorb” is a verb.
Where does the word “absorb” come from?
The word “absorb” comes from Latin. From Latin absorbeo, "to swallow up," combining ab- ("from") with sorbeo ("to suck in"), from an ancient root meaning "to sip.".
Is “absorb” a common word?
“Absorb” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "absorb" and "adsorb"?
"Absorb" means to soak up a substance so it is taken into and distributed through the interior of a material, like a sponge soaking up water. "Adsorb" is a distinct scientific term meaning a substance sticks only to the surface of another material, without penetrating it.
What does it mean for a company to "absorb a cost"?
When a business absorbs a cost, it takes on that expense itself rather than passing it on to customers, so others don't have to pay it. This usage extends the core sense of "absorb" as taking something in, applied to finances.
What is the difference between "absorbed" and "absorbing" as adjectives?
"Absorbed" typically describes a person's state of being fully occupied by something, as in "absorbed in a book," describing the person affected. "Absorbing" describes the thing itself as capable of holding attention, as in "an absorbing story," describing the source of interest.
Can "absorb" describe reducing the force of an impact?
Yes, "absorb" can mean to take in and reduce the force of an impact, sound, or shock, such as a padded surface absorbing a fall. This is a distinct sense from soaking up liquid, though both involve taking something in and containing its effect.
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