Word
engrossing
Phoneticsen·gross·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪnˈɡɹoʊsɪŋ/
UK/ɛnɡɹˈəʊsɪŋ/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The book is so engrossing that I read it all night.”
“The documentary was so engrossing that the entire audience remained silent until the credits rolled.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“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.” “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.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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