absorbs

verb

present tense third-person singular of absorb
1
as in drinks
to take in (something liquid) through small openings most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in occupies
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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in integrates
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

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4
as in consumes
to make complete use of cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tolerates
to put up with (something painful or difficult) somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of absorbs Photoluminescence occurs when a material absorbs energy and subsequently emits light. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 Plus the formula features a milky serum-like texture that feels featherlight and absorbs fast. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026 Ivory paint absorbs some of the light’s reflection, a small amount to be sure, but enough to soften the light’s expression. — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026 Your body absorbs about 25% of heme iron, compared to roughly 17% of non-heme iron. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 9 Oct. 2026 Instead of entering the bloodstream through a shot, the peptide absorbs across the tissue lining the mouth. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 That runoff waters the plants and filters pollutants as the soil absorbs it. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 Fortunately, the atmosphere absorbs most of them, but a few stray particles pass through your body every second. — Tyce Deyoung, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 The merchant processes the transaction and absorbs the associated costs. — Ken Nizam, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absorbs
  1. drinks
  2. occupies
  3. integrates
  4. consumes
  5. tolerates
  6. swallows
  7. immerses
  8. incorporates
Verb
  • The impression is of a raucous house party—one in which secrets are spilled, kisses are stolen, and everyone drinks far too much.
    — Zing Tsjeng, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Current law says that if an accuser knowingly and willingly drinks too much, there is no crime for someone else to take advantage of the accuser’s incapacitation.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of drinks
Verb
  • The Renoir Museum occupies the final home of the leading French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who lived there until his death in 1919.
    — SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Related Articles The 8,000-square-foot triplex occupies part of the American Thread Building at 260 West Broadway, a Renaissance Revival building completed in 1896.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of occupies
Verb
  • Robeson integrates into that community, which was astounding for a British film in 1940.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The framework integrates movement selection and execution into a single planner-controller approach.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of integrates
Verb
  • When the 6-foot-3, 324-pound nose tackle consumes multiple blockers, that allows Dolphins linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Jordyn Brooks to roam free and see the high tackle production.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The combination of social media and streaming created a world where everyone consumes content at virtually every moment of the day.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of consumes
Verb
  • That also suggests the league accepts, or at least tolerates, the flag-heavy officiating that has come to define the early months of the season.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Vietnam's communist government tolerates little dissent and tightly controls the media.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of tolerates
Verb
  • In many of his shots, the big sky of Ukraine’s fields and steppe swallows the frame.
    — Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Social Security swallows nearly a quarter of the federal budget and is less than a decade away from insolvency.
    — Andrew G. Biggs, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of swallows
Verb
  • Centre d’Art Marcel Gagnon is a riverside accommodation that immerses guests in the works of local artists, with 100 waterfront sculptures comprising a large-scale art installation and an on-site gallery.
    — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In Nobody Wants This, agnostic podcaster Joanne Williams (Kristen Bell) begins an unexpected romance with Rabbi Noah Roklov (Brody), which shakes both their families as Joanne immerses herself in Noah’s culture and decides to convert to Judaism.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of immerses
Verb
  • Dinner incorporates international influences and local seafood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Comedy Playground’s curriculum incorporates stand-up, led by Spies, which helps kids find their own voice, and improv, led by Katey Mushlin, which teaches them how to work with others and create meaningful bonds, Spies explained.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of incorporates

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Cite this Entry

“Absorbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absorbs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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