engrossing

1 of 2

adjective

en·​gross·​ing in-ˈgrō-siŋ 

en-

: taking up the attention completely : absorbing

engrossingly

in-ˈgrō-siŋ-lē 

en-

adverb

engrossing

2 of 2

present participle of engross

Synonyms of engrossing

Adjective

• interesting
• intriguing
• engaging
• fascinating
• absorbing

Examples of engrossing in a Sentence

Adjective

an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Those scenes play as if the screenwriters gave up on trying to resolve the twisty plot, instead just making their characters tell all, leaving the film’s denouement much less engrossing than its setup. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

At half-time of the mostly engrossing, controversial Manchester derby on Sunday, Marc Guehi was accosted by a Sky Sports reporter and asked a few questions. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

In 2022, the author of this engrossing investigation travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, to find the person who, years earlier, ensnared his mother in an online romance scam. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

The most engrossing aspect of the relationship is that it’s maintained tension. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for engrossing

• sclerosing
• diagnosing
• dosing
• grossing