absorbing
adjective
ab·sorb·ing əb-ˈsȯr-biŋ 
-ˈzȯr-
: fully taking one's attention : engrossing
an absorbing novel
absorbingly
əb-ˈsȯr-biŋ-lē
adverb -ˈzȯr-
Synonyms
- arresting
- consuming
- engaging
- engrossing
- enthralling
- fascinating
- gripping
- immersing
- interesting
- intriguing
- involving
- riveting
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in
Recent Examples on the Web For me, anyway, the most absorbing moment is the Hitler-Stalin Pact. 
Christian Lorentzen, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 And some of the most absorbing contributions are abstract. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Sequences like these are the best parts of the Hulu show—the funniest, the most absorbing and surprising. Lidija Haas, The New Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 Al Qadiri is a Kuwaiti American who’s made some of the most absorbing and transportive electronic music of the last decade. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2021 But the most absorbing composition is Number 196T (2019). Benjamin Lima, Dallas News, 21 Oct. 2020 Below are the essentials for more absorbing gameplay. Popular Science, 22 Apr. 2020 All this is absorbing enough without generating much in the way of real terror, tension or surprise. Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2020 Whereas some Infiniti vehicles—including the previous generation of this one—have been overly flinty, the ride quality here is relaxed but not lazy, absorbing road imperfections while maintaining secure and stable body control. Jared Gall, Car and Driver, 10 Mar. 2020 See More
Christian Lorentzen, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 And some of the most absorbing contributions are abstract. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Sequences like these are the best parts of the Hulu show—the funniest, the most absorbing and surprising. Lidija Haas, The New Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 Al Qadiri is a Kuwaiti American who’s made some of the most absorbing and transportive electronic music of the last decade. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2021 But the most absorbing composition is Number 196T (2019). Benjamin Lima, Dallas News, 21 Oct. 2020 Below are the essentials for more absorbing gameplay. Popular Science, 22 Apr. 2020 All this is absorbing enough without generating much in the way of real terror, tension or surprise. Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2020 Whereas some Infiniti vehicles—including the previous generation of this one—have been overly flinty, the ride quality here is relaxed but not lazy, absorbing road imperfections while maintaining secure and stable body control. Jared Gall, Car and Driver, 10 Mar. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
from present participle of absorb
First Known Use
1806, in the meaning defined above
absorbing 1 of 2
adjective
as in engaging
holding the attention or provoking interest shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- engaging
- interesting
- intriguing
- fascinating
- gripping
- engrossing
- consuming
- immersing
- enthralling
- exciting
- riveting
- involving
- entertaining
- provocative
- arresting
- inspiring
- electrifying
- amusing
- stimulating
- amazing
- enchanting
- galvanizing
- thrilling
- captivating
- exhilarating
- striking
- stirring
- attractive
- tantalizing
- rousing
- electric
- breathtaking
- astonishing
- unusual
- spellbinding
- mesmerizing
- alluring
- bewitching
- charming
- surprising
- wondrous
- hypnotizing
- showy
- emphatic
- astounding
- wonderful
- curious
- eventful
- marvelous
- splashy
- eye-opening
- marvellous
- odd
- weird
- fabulous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dry
- heavy
- tedious
- boring
- uninteresting
- dull
- monotonous
- drab
- tiring
- wearisome
- tiresome
- sterile
- discouraging
- wearying
- unexciting
- demoralizing
- operose
- dispiriting
- pedestrian
- humdrum
- disheartening
- dreary
- pedantic
absorbing
2 of 2verb
1
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth Synonyms & Similar Words
- drinking
- sipping
- imbibing
- swallowing
- sponging
- slurping
- gulping
- quaffing
- soaking (up)
- swigging
- guzzling
- taking up
- swilling
- sucking (up)
2
as in interesting
to hold the attention of chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time Synonyms & Similar Words
- interesting
- immersing
- intriguing
- occupying
- fascinating
- engrossing
- gripping
- attracting
- involving
- engaging
- busying
- enthralling
- enchanting
- distracting
- enwrapping
- captivating
- bemusing
- preoccupying
- mesmerizing
- obsessing
- charming
- alluring
- hypnotizing
- bewitching
- beguiling
- catching one's eye
- monopolizing
- catching up
- hogging
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tiring
- boring
- wearying
- jading
- palling
3
as in integrating
to make a part of a body or system local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible Synonyms & Similar Words
- integrating
- incorporating
- assimilating
- embodying
- merging
- intermingling
- co-opting
- combining
- amalgamating
- blending
- commingling
- mingling
- acculturating
- habituating
- accustoming
- fusing
- conditioning
- enculturating
- naturalizing
4
as in consuming
to make complete use of cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy Synonyms & Similar Words
- consuming
- draining
- spending
- exhausting
- reducing
- depleting
- burning
- devouring
- using
- eating
- expending
- emptying
- decreasing
- wasting
- playing out
- drawing down
- diminishing
- using up
- lowering
- weakening
- undermining
- sapping
- downsizing
- lessening
- running out of
- dwindling
- impoverishing
- dissipating
- crippling
- bankrupting
- debilitating
- disabling
- blowing
- enfeebling
- squandering
- lavishing
- de-escalating
- guzzling
- abating
- drying up
- running through
- cleaning (out)
- throwing away
- misspending
- frittering (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increasing
- augmenting
- replacing
- renewing
- reinforcing
- enlarging
- enforcing
- preserving
- strengthening
- saving
- repairing
- reviving
- restoring
- conserving
- bolstering
- fortifying
- reenforcing
- rebuilding
5
as in tolerating
to put up with (something painful or difficult) somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered Synonyms & Similar Words
- tolerating
- handling
- accepting
- enduring
- taking
- standing
- sustaining
- bearing
- stomaching
- swallowing
- supporting
- abiding
- countenancing
- pocketing
- biding
- meeting
- wearing
- hacking
- brooking
- sticking out
- living with
- standing for
- sweating out
- going
- allowing
- suffering
- permitting
- toughing it out
- respecting
- acquiescing
- lumping (it)
- capitulating
- reconciling (to)
- yielding (to)
- submitting (to)
- assenting (to)
- consenting (to)
- agreeing (with or to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejecting
- dismissing
- refusing
- resisting
- declining
- opposing
- fighting
- repudiating
- avoiding
- combating
- escaping
- combatting
- contesting
- turning down
- evading
- missing
- bypassing
- spurning
- dodging
- circumventing
- eluding
- refraining (from)
- forbearing
- abstaining (from)
- sets against
- sets apart
- sets aside
- sets at
- sets back
- sets by
- sets down
- sets eyes on
- sets foot in
- sets forth
- sets in
- sets in motion
- sets off
- sets on
- sets one's heart on
- sets one's teeth on edge
- sets oneself against
- sets oneself up as
- sets oneself up as something
- sets out
- sets something or someone against
- sets something straight
- sets store by
- sets straight
- sets to