1. Giving or marked by complete attention to
   "that absorbed look of rapt delight";
   - captive, engrossed, enwrapped, intent, wrapped, rapt
    
2. Retained without reflection
   "the absorbed light intensity"
    
3. (of a liquid etc.) taken in through the pores in a surface
   "The spilled water was quickly absorbed by the sponge"

1. Take in, also metaphorically
   "The sponge absorbs water well";
   - suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in, take up
    
2. (chemistry) become imbued
   "The liquids, light, and gases absorb"
    
3. Suck or take up or in
   "A black star absorbs all matter";
   - take in
    
4. Take up mentally
   "he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe";
   - assimilate, ingest, take in
    
5. Assimilate or take in
   "The immigrants were quickly absorbed into society"
    
6. Consume all of one's attention or time
   "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely";
   - engross, engage, occupy
    
7. Devote (oneself) fully to
   "He absorbed himself in classical literature";
   - steep, immerse, plunge, engross
    
8. Take up, as of debts or payments
   "absorb the costs for something";
   - take over
    
9. Cause to become one with
   "The sales tax is absorbed into the state income tax"

See also: attentive, unreflected

Type of: acquire, act, blend, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], coalesce, combine, commingle, concentrate, focus, fund, fuse, immix [archaic], interest, invite, larn [informal], learn, meld, merge, mix, move, pore, pore over, receive, rivet, sorb, take in, take up

Antonym: emit

Encyclopedia: Absorbed