absorbed
adj.-
1 very interested (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediategiving all your attention to something because it is very interesting.
fully occupied with one's thoughts or activities; deeply engrossed in a subject or task.
ExampleShe was so absorbed in her novel that she didn't hear the doorbell ring.
ExampleThe researchers were so absorbed in the data analysis that they failed to notice the time passing, eventually working well into the night.
UsageUsually follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'in'.
PitfallHe was absorbed by his book.He was absorbed in his book.When describing someone who is very interested in an activity, use the preposition 'in', not 'by'.
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2 taken in (adj.) C1 Advanced Technical Sciencetaken in or soaked up by something else.
having been taken in, assimilated, or incorporated into a larger whole or substance.
ExampleThe spilled water was quickly absorbed by the thick paper towel.
ExampleThe nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine during the digestion process.
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'by' or 'into'.
- assimilated
- soaked up
- incorporated
From absorb + -ed.
- Nounabsorbedness
- Adjectiveabsorbed
- Adverbabsorbedly