verb

absorb

uhb-ZAWB

verb

To soak up a liquid, gas, or other substance.

"The towel quickly absorbed the spilled water."

"Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air."

To take in and reduce the force of an impact, sound, or shock.

"The bumper is designed to absorb the force of a collision."

To fully occupy someone's attention or interest.

"The novel absorbed her for the entire flight."

To take on a cost so that others don't have to pay it.

"The company absorbed the extra shipping costs itself."

How to Use Absorb

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

absorbed past tense, absorpt past tense, absorb plural, absorbed plural, absorbs singular, absorbed singular, absorb singular, absorbest singular, absorbedst singular, absorbeth singular

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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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bear pay for take in

Antonyms

emit

Related Words

bear emit carry include exhale yield tolerate troublemaker

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