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absorbed

absorbed

3.6
Giving all your attention to something and not noticing other things
  • adjective
  • /əbˈzɔrd/
translation icon : absorbido
  • He became absorbed in the painting, losing track of everything happening around him.

I'm really get pretty absorbed into just the story of my book.

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Examples

  • She reads the letter carefully, absorbed in whatever it says.

  • But human beings get back to their nature rather than being so absorbed by man made things.

  • And so I found myself really absorbed in what can you do about that?

  • I felt so absorbed and I loved it so much.

  • Her wanting people to be healthy comes through and you watch it and you learn and you get absorbed into the video.

  • But I wanted to add one more by saying how stimulated, absorbed, and frankly moved I was by last night's events.

  • I, I think I'm very empathetic and I also get quite absorbed in tasks.

  • She was completely absorbed in her book and forgot the time.

  • The students were absorbed in the lesson, paying careful attention to every detail.

Synonyms

wrapped up
vsabsorbed
  • Informal
62 4.8

Very interested and completely involved in something

is focused attention but may lack the devotion aspect
intent
vsabsorbed
54 4.9

Giving full attention to something

is broad deep interest rather than only focused concentration
rapt
vsabsorbed
  • Formal
11 7.5

Fully focused and very interested in something

is serious interest but can be less intensely focused
spellbound
vsabsorbed
7 5.2

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is deep attention without the sense of being magically held
enthralled
vsabsorbed
3 6.9

Very interested and full of wonder, unable to look away

is earnest attention without necessarily creating wonder
engrossed
vsabsorbed
1 4.5

Paying all your attention to something because you are very interested

is deep interest that may not occupy every thought
fascinated
vsabsorbed
1 2.1

Very interested and unable to stop paying attention

is about deep engagement rather than only attraction or charm
hypnotized
vsabsorbed
  • US
1 5.3

Your attention is fixed as if under a spell

means strong engagement but not necessarily trance like focus
entranced
vsabsorbed
1 5.8

Amazed and very happy so you cannot look away

involves full attention without the strong amazed or stunned feeling
lost
vsabsorbed
1 5.0

Absorbed in thought and not aware of your surroundings

is focused interest on an external thing rather than inner thoughts
bemused
vsabsorbed
1 6.7

Lost in thought and not paying attention to what is around

is wholehearted attention rather than thoughtful puzzlement or reflection
engaged
vsabsorbed
3.4

Giving full attention to an activity or idea

is inward deep interest rather than merely being occupied
mesmerized
vsabsorbed
  • US
6.0

Unable to look away because something is very interesting

denotes deep interest without implying an external trance
enrapt
vsabsorbed
  • Literature
7.8

Feeling great joy and deep interest

is deep interest that may not include delight or joy
enraptured
vsabsorbed
  • Literature
7.2

Full of great joy and wonder

is focused interest without the element of great pleasure
captivated
vsabsorbed
3.9

Very interested and pleased so you cannot stop watching or listening

is steady deep engagement rather than charming attraction
enwrapped
vsabsorbed
7.6

Deeply focused on something and not aware of other things

means deep interest but can be less total or poetic
abstracted
vsabsorbed
7.1

Thinking deeply about something else and not noticing what is around you

is focused attention on an external thing rather than inward thinking
prepossessed
vsabsorbed
9.2

Thinking about something all the time and not paying attention

is full engagement with something external rather than inward preoccupation

Antonyms

20 3.5

Not wanting to know about or take part in something

How Absorbed

engrossed
1 4.5
absorbed
3.6
interested
1.0

Surface Forms

absorbed positive

Morphology

absorbed = absorb (semi-transparent) = absorb + ed

The adjectival meaning 'deeply interested/engaged' is a metaphorical extension of the physical sense of being 'taken in', so the relation is recognisable but not fully literal.

Etymology

Absorbed comes from the Latin parts ad- 'to' and sorbere 'to suck in', which gives a simple image: your attention is 'sucked in' like a sponge. That is why someone absorbed in a book gives all their attention to it.