engrossing

adjective

en·​gross·​ing in-ˈgrō-siŋ How to pronounce engrossing (audio)
en-
: taking up the attention completely : absorbing
engrossingly adverb

Examples of engrossing in a Sentence

an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans
Recent Examples on the Web Then there’s Arrival, which is basically a linguistics lesson wrapped in a sci-fi feature and all the more engrossing because of it. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Ben Lewis’ film pulls you into a tense world where secret agents navigate ethical crossroads, offering an engrossing experience for anyone who's into the gritty realism of war dramas or the edge-of-your-seat tension in spy stories. Travis Bean, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Whiplash is an engrossing journey into obsession with two committed performances at its center. Kevin Jacobsen and Sammi Burke, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023 Oscar-winning filmmaker and artist Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave, Shame, Hunger) shows us in his engrossing new documentary, Occupied City, how the not so distant past events of the second world war still haunt present day Amsterdam. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 But Denis Villeneuve's engrossing psychological drama rises above your standard Netflix fare, exploring moral ambiguity and the ultimate price of seeking vengeance. Kevin Jacobsen and Sammi Burke, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023 Those who have discovered Like a Dragon can find its exaggerated portrayal of Japanese urban life an engrossing counterpoint to Grand Theft Auto’s jaded, pessimistic parody of America. Brian Feldman, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024 Over six engrossing episodes rich with archival footage, directors Chapman and Maclain Way tell the story of how the Bhagwan’s followers took over a 65,000-acre ranch near the tiny town of Antelope, Ore., and transformed it into Rajneeshpuram, a thriving village with its own pizza parlor and bank. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2023 Both Daisy and Craig come to the getaway armed with their secrets; neither is prepared for what the week will bring in this engrossing drama. Jill Pellettieri, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'engrossing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of engrossing was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near engrossing

Cite this Entry

“Engrossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engrossing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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