Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Fully engaged; having one's attention completely occupied: Describes a state of being so focused on something that one is unaware of other things.
   • Taken in or soaked up (of a liquid, gas, or energy): Describes something that has been taken into something else, often physically.

Usage

• As an adjective describing mental focus: Used to describe a person who is completely engrossed in an activity, thought, or subject.
• As an adjective describing a physical process: Used to describe a substance that has been taken up or assimilated by another.

Examples

• Describing mental focus:
  • She was so absorbed in her book that she didn't hear the doorbell.
  • The students were absorbed in the fascinating science experiment.
• Describing a physical process:
  • The sponge quickly became absorbed with water.
  • Plants use their roots to take in absorbed nutrients from the soil.

Advanced Usage

• "to be absorbed in thought": To be deeply thinking about something, often to the exclusion of one's surroundings.
  • He sat by the window, absorbed in thought about the future.
• "to be absorbed by/into something": To be fully taken over or assimilated by a larger entity (often used figuratively).
  • The small company was absorbed by a large multinational corporation.

Variants and Related Words

• Absorb (verb): To take in or soak up; to engross the attention of.
  • The fabric can absorb a lot of liquid.
  • The movie absorbed the audience completely.
• Absorbing (adjective): Extremely interesting; engrossing.
  • It was an absorbing mystery novel.
• Absorption (noun): The process of being absorbed; complete mental engagement.
  • The absorption of nutrients is vital.
  • Her total absorption in her work is impressive.

Synonyms

• Engrossed: Having all one's attention or interest taken up.
• Rapt: Completely fascinated or absorbed.
• Preoccupied: Engrossed in thought; distracted.
• Assimilated: Taken in and integrated.

Antonyms

• Distracted: Unable to concentrate because one's mind is on other things.
• Inattentive: Not paying attention.
• Reflected (in the physical sense): Thrown back, not taken in.

Related Phrases

• Absorbed cost (Business/Accounting): A cost that has been allocated to a product or department.
  • The absorbed costs were higher than anticipated.
• Self-absorbed: Excessively focused on oneself and one's own affairs.
  • He was too self-absorbed to notice her feelings.

Adjective

1. retained without reflection
   • the absorbed light intensity
2. giving or marked by complete attention to
   • that engrossed look or rapt delight
   • then wrapped in dreams
   • so intent on this fantastic...narrative that she hardly stirred- Walter de la Mare
   • rapt with wonder
   • wrapped in thought