engross

play

verb en·gross \ in-ˈgrōs , en- \

Definition of engross

transitive verb

1 a :to copy or write in a large hand

b :to prepare the usually final handwritten or printed text of (an official document)

[Middle English, from Anglo-French engrosser, from en gros wholesale, in quantity]

a :to purchase large quantities of (as for speculation)

b archaic :amass, collect

c :to take or engage the whole attention of :occupy completely

ideas that have engrossed the minds of scholars for generations

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engrosser

noun

See engross defined for English-language learners

See engross defined for kids

Examples of engross in a Sentence

a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending

Recent Examples of engross from the Web

Welcome to It’s Complicated, a week of stories on the sometimes frustrating, sometimes confusing, always engrossing subject of modern relationships.

— katie heaney, The Cut, "When You Have Anxiety and Your Partner Doesn’t," 30 Aug. 2017
Betty Shaw experienced Maze’s engrossing stagecraft firsthand.

— danielle jackson, Longreads, "Why the “Black Grateful Dead” Thrives Outside of Top 40 Radio," 19 July 2017
Within moments the two women were engrossed in conversation.

— aryn baker/ athens, Time, "A Syrian Refugee in Greece Learning Her Future Gets a Reminder of the Past," 4 July 2017
Even a table of four teenagers was engrossed in talk, none of them fingering an iPhone, texting, posting, checking voicemail, but looking each other in the face and speaking as young people in America used to do, except these were speaking Dutch.

— garrison keillor, The Denver Post, "Taking a break from the news," 13 June 2017
Yet the night was ultimately engrossing, not galvanizing.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "‘All the President’s Men?’ Is a Starry C-Span Supercut with Bite," 12 May 2017
As Clippers coach Doc Rivers compiled his team’s gameplan for the Sunday contest, Schneiderman engrossed in preparations to blanket the Staples Center in white XL t-shirts.

— jake fischer, SI.com, "The Puppet Master Behind NBA Playoff T-Shirts," 7 May 2017
Strapping on VR goggles allows for all manner of immersive experiences — such as touring far-off places, playing interactive games and becoming engrossed in 360-degree films.

— julio ojeda-zapata, Twin Cities, "St. Paul jeweler offers virtual-reality app for viewing baubles in 360 degrees," 7 Jan. 2017
And then there’s the rest of us, who neither have the time, money, nor mechanical know-how to turn our Subarus into Interceptors but are nevertheless engrossed in Miller’s adrenaline-pumping films that re-wrote the action-movie playbook.

— cary darling, star-telegram, "‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ runs straight through Lewisville," 13 May 2015

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

Origin and Etymology of engross

Middle English, from Anglo-French engrosser to put (a legal document) in final form, from Medieval Latin ingrossare, from in grossam (put) into final form, literally, (written) in large (letter)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

engross Synonyms

Synonyms

absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy

Related Words

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

ENGROSS Defined for English Language Learners

engross

play

verb

Definition of engross for English Language Learners

: to hold the complete interest or attention of (someone)

ENGROSS Defined for Kids

engross

play

verb en·gross \ in-ˈgrōs \

Definition of engross for Students

engrossed; engrossing

:to take the attention of completely

He was engrossed in a book.

Law Dictionary

engross

play

transitive verb en·gross \ in-ˈgrōs \

legal Definition of engross

:to prepare the usually final handwritten or printed text of (as a bill or resolution) especially for final passage or approval

the amendment was ordered to be engrossed
—Congressional Record

— see also engrossed bill at bill 1 — compare enroll

Note: A bill or resolution is engrossed in the Congress and some state legislatures before its third reading and final passage by one of the legislative houses.

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engrossment

noun

Origin and Etymology of engross

Anglo-French engrosser to put (a legal document) in final form, from Medieval Latin ingrossare, from in grossam (put) into final form, literally, (written) in large (letter)