as in immersed
having the mind fixed on something
I was too engrossed in the book to notice the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interested
to hold the attention of
a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of engrossed
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Rachel became engrossed in Facebook videos of other moms who were documenting their families’ self-deportation process and describing their relief to be out of the United States.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The dancers appear free of themselves and the world, utterly engrossed in music and dance in a way that is generous and fully alive.
—Jennifer Homans, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
She's currently engrossed in a debate—between herself and herself—about what her dress should look like.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of a carefully handwritten piece of parchment (what’s known as an engrossed copy), this variant is one of the few surviving broadside editions.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
Upon news of Short’s death, the case made major headlines, and the media became engrossed in coverage of the investigation.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Her children and their cousins scampered about, while the adults were deeply engrossed in conversation.
—Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2025
Set in rural New England, The Lonely Woman follows a woman whose first love died in a mountain tunnel, and becomes engrossed in a new disappearance.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Sitting on the dais between her husband and pregnant White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the first lady appears to be engrossed in conversation.
—Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
The supplemental budget was engrossed into law on March 18.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
What engrossed him and his team was the Alto’s graphical display, which was destined to make the text-only displays of contemporary computers obsolete.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Don’t listen to your favorite podcast or get engrossed in conversation.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
For Dallas’ Black community in the late 1950s through the 1960s, the Forest Theater was the place to see and be seen, recalls Shirley Rhodes, an 80-year-old South Dallas native who spent Saturdays there during her childhood while engrossed in the cinematic offerings.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
When not engrossed in their studies, preppy students also embrace the outdoors.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Yorke’s wife, Dajana, was curled up next to him, engrossed in a Murakami novel.
—Zoe Si, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
In his early thirties, while engrossed in these studies, Lamarck also became romantically involved with a woman named Rosalie de la Porte.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Rachel became engrossed in Facebook videos of other moms who were documenting their families’ self-deportation process and describing their relief to be out of the United States.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The dancers appear free of themselves and the world, utterly engrossed in music and dance in a way that is generous and fully alive.
—Jennifer Homans, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
She's currently engrossed in a debate—between herself and herself—about what her dress should look like.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of a carefully handwritten piece of parchment (what’s known as an engrossed copy), this variant is one of the few surviving broadside editions.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
Upon news of Short’s death, the case made major headlines, and the media became engrossed in coverage of the investigation.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Her children and their cousins scampered about, while the adults were deeply engrossed in conversation.
—Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2025
Set in rural New England, The Lonely Woman follows a woman whose first love died in a mountain tunnel, and becomes engrossed in a new disappearance.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
What matters, after all, is that feeling of being engrossed in a good story.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Sitting on the dais between her husband and pregnant White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the first lady appears to be engrossed in conversation.
—Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
The supplemental budget was engrossed into law on March 18.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
What engrossed him and his team was the Alto’s graphical display, which was destined to make the text-only displays of contemporary computers obsolete.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Don’t listen to your favorite podcast or get engrossed in conversation.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
For Dallas’ Black community in the late 1950s through the 1960s, the Forest Theater was the place to see and be seen, recalls Shirley Rhodes, an 80-year-old South Dallas native who spent Saturdays there during her childhood while engrossed in the cinematic offerings.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026
When not engrossed in their studies, preppy students also embrace the outdoors.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Yorke’s wife, Dajana, was curled up next to him, engrossed in a Murakami novel.
—Zoe Si, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engrossed
Adjective
-
Housed in a former dry ice warehouse, the 21-room Hotel Dryce is the perfect home base for those wanting to feel immersed in the city.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Surgeons who participate in research, teach, and attend specialty conferences are more immersed in ongoing performance review and improvement.—
Mathias P. Bostrom,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As to why the format interested him, Hawley pointed to a similarity with Fargo.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cindy would give Ann gourmet popcorn or maybe a sweatshirt from her alma mater, while Ann would give Cindy a special book on a topic that interested her, or maybe an old batch of family recipes.—
Ross Channing Reed,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This no-reservations Vietnamese restaurant near Union Square can feel frantic, everyone wanting everything at once, but the kitchen stays focused and fearless.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Others are more focused on overseeing how agents are created and deployed through their organizations.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
When one of Zotkina’s colleagues, archaeologist Ksenia Kolobova, saw a pattern of circular marks lining the hole that were similar to those made by early human dental work, Zotkina was intrigued.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
-
In addition to working with Carell, Clive was intrigued by the journey that Katie goes on in such a short period.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Unabsorbed calcium leaves the body through stool, and absorbed calcium that isn't needed may be filtered by the kidneys and leave in urine—often within about a day.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The absorbed or scattered light creates a unique pattern called the spectrum, which is effectively the substance’s fingerprint.—
Ambuj Tewari,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
At least 27 homes were so severely damaged that they could not be safely occupied along the coast, according to the California Coastal Commission.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
The drive-thru coffee house will take over the property previously occupied by TGI Fridays, which closed five years ago, said petitioner James Hus of the DVG Team.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Snakes are another species that Attenborough has been fascinated with for decades, despite some being more poisonous than others.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Yoo is fascinated by how Love Is Blind might fare in Korea.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
School staff initially intervened and separated the students involved in the fight, police said.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
The potential medical interventions are similar to those involved in transitioning — mental health therapy, hormone therapy and surgeries.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Engrossed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engrossed. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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