absorb

verb ab·sorb \ əb-ˈsȯrb , -ˈzȯrb \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: absorb in a Sentence

Definition of absorb

absorbed; absorbing; absorbs

transitive verb

1 a : to take in (something, such as water) in a natural or gradual way

a sponge absorbs water

charcoal absorbs gas

plant roots absorb water

b : to take in (knowledge, attitudes, etc.) : acquire, learn

… convictions absorbed in youth …
—M. R. Cohen

c : use up, consume

The fever absorbed her strength.

His work absorbs all his time and attention.

2 : to take in and make part of an existent whole

the capacity of a country to absorb new immigrants

3 : to engage or engross wholly

an interest that absorbs her completely

absorbed in thought

4 a (1) : to receive without recoil or echo

provided with a sound-absorbing surface

(2) : endure, sustain

absorbing hardships

(3) : assume, bear

The expenses were absorbed by the company.

b : to transform (radiant energy) into a different form especially with a resulting rise in temperature

The earth absorbs the sun's rays.

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absorbability

play \əb-ˌsȯr-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌzȯr-\ noun

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absorbable

play \əb-ˈsȯr-bə-bəl, -ˈzȯr-\ adjective

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absorber

noun

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Examples of absorb in a Sentence

a fabric that absorbs sweat
The walls are made of a material that absorbs sound.
absorbing heat from the sun
She is good at absorbing information.
He has retained the values that he absorbed as a young man.
a country that has absorbed many immigrants
smaller countries invaded and absorbed by bigger ones
His interest in photography absorbs him completely.
I was so absorbed by her story that I lost track of time.

Recent Examples of absorb from the Web

Plants absorb water from the ground and transpire (release water into the air), which works like a natural air conditioner.

— science buddies, Scientific American, "Warm in the Sun," 12 July 2018
Along the sides of zebras, vertical black stripes simply absorb sunlight without being tempered by this phenomenon, putting most of the zebra’s body at a thermoregulatory disadvantage.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "Settling a Heated Debate—Do Zebra Stripes Keep These Animals Cool?," 10 July 2018
Police said she was exposed to the chemical last weekend, absorbing it through her hands.

— william booth, Anchorage Daily News, "Woman exposed to nerve agent in southern England dies; police launch murder investigation," 9 July 2018
The minerals deflect the UV rays, while chemicals absorb them.

— nanette asimov, SFChronicle.com, "With Hawaii banning harmful sunscreens, what’s a responsible tourist to do?," 7 July 2018
Manso-Carraquillo was still trying to absorb it all when Detective Patrick Pajot sat down across from him.

— ashley luthern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A triple homicide, a son left behind: How a Milwaukee police detective built a trusting bond with a survivor of violence," 6 July 2018
The new solar window technologies, however, absorb almost exclusively invisible ultraviolet (UV) or infrared light.

— robert f. service, Science | AAAS, "Skyscrapers could soon generate their own power, thanks to see-through solar cells," 28 June 2018
The aim is to ensure banks have enough capital to absorb losses and keep lending even in a serious recession.

— deon roberts, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte's big banks plan to boost their dividends, buy back more stock," 28 June 2018
Some materials absorb the waves while others are designed to direct the radar returns across the fuselage and toward the back of the jet so the enemy sees no signal.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "B-52 Bombers Could Quadruple Their Wing Bomb Loads," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'absorb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of absorb

borrowed from Middle French assorber, absorber, asorbir, absorbir, going back to Old French, borrowed (with conjugation changes) from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- + sorbēre "to suck up, draw in, engulf," going back to Indo-European *sṛbh-eii̯̯e-, probably re-formed from *srobh-eii̯̯e-, iterative derivative from the verb base *srebh- "suck up, drink noisily"; akin to Greek rophéō, ropheîn "to drink in gulps," Armenian arbi "drank," Lithuanian srebiù, srė̃bti "to gulp," Old Russian sereblyu, serebati

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year