English Reference
Verb

engrossing

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ɪnˈɡɹoʊsɪŋ/ UK /ɛnɡɹˈəʊsɪŋ/ en·gross·ing

v.describing something that is so interesting that you cannot stop thinking about it. It keeps your full attention and makes you forget about everything else.

v.holding one's entire attention; absorbing or engrossing. Often used to describe literature, films, or activities that prevent the mind from wandering.


SIMPLE

The book is so engrossing that I read it all night.

CONTEXTUAL

The documentary was so engrossing that the entire audience remained silent until the credits rolled.

COMPLEX

While the plot is relatively simple, the novel's engrossing prose and meticulous historical detail make it a difficult read to put down once started.

Think of a conversation so engrossing that you forget you’re speaking and say something you didn’t know you thought until you heard it leave your mouth.

Aeon· 1 Sept 2026

There could hardly be a more vivid time-capsule film about the publicly funded British arts scene in the early 1990s than this engrossing fly-on-the-wall documentary about Derek Jarman and his movie Edward II.

The Guardian· 4 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated