To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up.
"The massive wave crashed onto the shore, absorbing all of the small boats with a deafening roar."
In plain English: To absorb means to take something in, whether it is liquid soaking into a material or information entering your mind through learning.
"We need to spend time with our children and absorb some of their energy before we go out again."
Usage: Use "absorb" when something takes in a liquid, light, or information, but avoid using it for physical consumption like eating food. Do not confuse the verb with its noun form "absorption," which refers to the process rather than the action itself.
Example Sentences
"We need to spend time with our children and absorb some of their energy before we go out again."verb
"She tried to absorb the new information before her exam."verb
"The dark rug will help absorb any water from spilled drinks."verb
"Children are able to absorb language very quickly when they hear it often."verb
The word absorb comes from the Latin verb absorbeō, meaning "to swallow up." It is formed from the prefix ab- (from) and sorbeō (to suck in or swallow), which traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root related to sipping.