absorbing

1 of 2

adjective

ab·​sorb·​ing əb-ˈsȯr-biŋ 

-ˈzȯr-

: fully taking one's attention : engrossing

an absorbing novel

absorbingly

əb-ˈsȯr-biŋ-lē 

-ˈzȯr-

adverb

absorbing

2 of 2

present participle of absorb

Synonyms of absorbing

Adjective

• interesting
• engaging
• intriguing
• fascinating

Examples of absorbing in a Sentence

Adjective

shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Tolstoy saw everything and had the grandeur of vision to be able to render it in one totally absorbing novel. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026

The film, told through the eyes of a London journalist (Edward Judd), is smart, absorbing, and still timely. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

The fast-absorbing, fragrance-free formula melts in instantly—offering calming relief without any trace of greasiness or weight. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026

From that point on, Kusama’s absorbing and fresh art, once charged by avant-garde energies, became more or less a meaning-free expression of market principles, an exercise in branding. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of absorb

First Known Use

Adjective

1806, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for absorbing

• adsorbing