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
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 engrossed
Literary Hub,
13 May 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
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Up ahead, 2026 Paris-Roubaix winner Wout van Aert is engrossed in a phone call.
—
Chris Marshall-Bell,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
If a potential friend is engrossed with a particular podcast or TV show, take their bid and check it out.
—
Anna Goldfarb,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
The supplemental budget was engrossed into law on March 18.
—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
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
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
Adjective
At the center of it all, perfectly aligned with the flags, columns, architraves, and pediments, was the engrossed Declaration in its altar, surmounted by a bronze eagle.
—
Literary Hub,
13 May 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
Like millions worldwide, my family and I have been deeply, and in our case, weirdly, engrossed in this year’s games.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Up ahead, 2026 Paris-Roubaix winner Wout van Aert is engrossed in a phone call.
—
Chris Marshall-Bell,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
If a potential friend is engrossed with a particular podcast or TV show, take their bid and check it out.
—
Anna Goldfarb,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
The supplemental budget was engrossed into law on March 18.
—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engrossed
Adjective
-
Patrick Vieira was 24 years old and totally immersed in his career, a midfield colossus with Arsenal and a World Cup winner with France, when the call of Africa became overwhelming.
-
Thereafter, Jupiter will appear to drop rapidly away from Venus, setting progressively earlier and becoming more and more deeply immersed in the bright evening twilight during the balance of June.
Verb
-
What interested him was the gap between the performance of power and whatever lives underneath it.
-
That’s a cheap and easy analogy, but that’s what interested me to want to make this show.
Adjective
-
Despite the chaos threatening to derail Indiana's momentum, Clark made sure the Fever stayed focused on the only thing that mattered.
-
The Senate’s version of Bert and Ernie is focused legislation for the big-time college game, while there are other politicians trying to help out the lower levels where the players don’t have a transfer portal, or can make millions in NIL.
Verb
-
That journey validated why Coward became intrigued with joining an independent sports agency.
-
But Kaplan also was intrigued by other labs’ findings that mast cells could fend off a common type of skin bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus.
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.
-
The absorbed or scattered light creates a unique pattern called the spectrum, which is effectively the substance’s fingerprint.
Verb
-
But the location of his grave was lost once British troops retook the city in late 1778 and occupied it through the war’s end, camping in the cemetery.
-
Dying was such a momentous thing to do, and while Matthew, their dear friend, their cousin-brother, had been off doing it, the women had occupied themselves with such frivolities as cleaning and heat.
Verb
-
Like countless others, I was fascinated by the intersection of medicine, epidemiology, and emerging pathogens that the book portrayed.
-
Hornets have ‘totally reshaped that frontcourt’ Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo sports podcaster and writer, is fascinated by the trade on both sides.
Verb
-
Before that can happen, though, the Panthers still need to get through the second day of the draft — one that they will for sure be involved in.
-
Respite care may be an option that empowers everyone involved.
Cite this Entry
“Engrossed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engrossed. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
