absorb

1 to take in (something liquid) through small openings most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth Synonyms drink, imbibe, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up Related Words gulp, guzzle, quaff, sip, slurp, swallow, swig, swill

2 to hold the attention of chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time Synonyms engage, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupyRelated Words allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolizeNear Antonyms bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

3 to make a part of a body or system local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible Synonyms embody, assimilate, co-opt, incorporate, integrateRelated Words amalgamate, blend, combine, commingle, fuse, intermingle, merge, mingle; acculturate, accustom, condition, enculturate, habituate, naturalize

4 to make complete use of cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy Synonyms deplete, burn, consume, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use upRelated Words abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce; eat, use; bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish; cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken; dry up, empty; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, wasteNear Antonyms augment, enlarge, increase; bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; rebuild, repair, restore, revive; conserve, preserve, saveAntonyms renew, replace

5 to put up with (something painful or difficult) somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered Synonyms abide, bear, accept, bide [chiefly dialect], brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear [British]Related Words allow, permit, suffer, swallow; reconcile (to); acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)Near Antonyms decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down; combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist; avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)