Absorb Meaning
/əbˈzɔːb/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo 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.
verbTo engulf, as in water; to swallow up.
Sentence Examples
This paper does not absorb ink.
These pajamas absorb sweat well.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The sponge will quickly ____ the spilled water from the table.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Plants ____ sunlight to produce energy through photosynthesis.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French absorber, from Old French assorbir, from Latin absorbeō (“swallow up”), from ab- (“from”) + sorbeō (“suck in, swallow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *srebʰ- (“to sip”). Compare French absorber.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all."
— 1782, William Cowper, On Observing some Names of Little Note:
"In some countries, the large cities absorb the wealth and fashion of the nation; they are the only fixed abodes of elegant and intelligent society, and the country is inhabited almost entirely by boorish peasantry."
— 1819 July 31, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rural Life in England”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number II, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 124:
"As a microbullet impacts the graphene, the diameter of the cone it creates – determined by later examination of the petals – provides a way to measure how much energy the graphene absorbs before breaking."
— 2014 December 1, Mike Williams, “Microbullet hits confirm graphene’s strength”, in Rice University:
"Wages absorbed 80% of the total revenue (which was inescapable), and they were rising at almost twice the rate of fares, which were pegged by law."
— 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 51:
"to be absorpt, or swallowed up, in a lake of fire and brimstone."
— 1684-1690, Thomas Burnet, The Sacred Theory of the Earth:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The sponge will quickly ____ the spilled water from the table.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Plants ____ sunlight to produce energy through photosynthesis.