English Reference
adjective · verb

absorbing

adj. · v.
US /əbˈzɔɹbɪŋ/ UK /ɐbsˈɔːbɪŋ/ ab·sorb·ing

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.so interesting that you give it all your attention.

    adj.fully engaging the mind or attention; engrossing.

    Simple

    I found the documentary about deep-sea creatures absolutely absorbing.

    In context

    The novel provides an absorbing account of the city's history, weaving personal narratives into the broader political landscape.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.the act of soaking up liquid, information, or costs.

    v.the present participle of 'absorb', referring to the process of taking in or soaking up energy, liquid, or information.

    Simple

    The sponge was absorbing all the spilled milk on the counter.

    In context

    By absorbing the smaller firm's debt, the corporation managed to secure a dominant position in the regional market without a hostile takeover.

    soaking upincorporating
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Math

    adj.describing a state or process that things can enter but cannot leave.

    adj.relating to a state or boundary that, once entered, cannot be exited; frequently used in Markov chains and statistical models.

    Simple

    In this game, falling into the trap is an absorbing state because you cannot move again.

    In context

    The mathematician demonstrated that the Markov chain contained an absorbing state, ensuring that the process would eventually terminate at that specific value.

    Usage

    Often used to describe an 'absorbing state' in probability theory.

All the forests in the world pale in comparison to the ocean when it comes to absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Phys.org· 26 Aug 2026

Urban green spaces could help alleviate these effects by absorbing rainwater and lowering temperatures.

Phys.org· 26 Aug 2026

From absorb + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated