1. Capable of arousing and holding the attention
   "The absorbing novel kept her up all night";
   - engrossing, fascinating, gripping, riveting

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: interesting

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: Absorbing