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engrossed

engrossed

1 4.5
Paying all your attention to something because you are very interested
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈɡroʊst/
translation icon : absorto
  • Pam went over to talk to them to find out why they were not dressing out, and she became so engrossed in conversations that she forgot to monitor the rest of the class.

By this point, I've been engrossed in this whole thing.

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Examples

  • I should have told you he was coming... but I was so engrossed in your story.

  • I lost track of time because I was so engrossed in the play!

  • I was so engrossed in it that my family started pulling it out of my hands.

    Blog text (10)
  • They're targeting young people who are engrossed in their social world.

  • I was so engrossed in reading the book that I didn't hear Dr. Dawson when he came back.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I was so engrossed with the stories as the narrators were telling them that it did not occur to me to ask the mothers what they thought the stories were doing for their children.

    Academic text (2017)
  • N1: Everyone is too engrossed in Sir Kay's story to listen to the Yankee.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Sometimes within our classrooms, we become so engrossed in the technical aspects of "making music" that the enjoyment of the music may become secondary or even lost.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I was so engrossed in the novel that I forgot to eat dinner.

  • The children were engrossed in the movie and didn’t notice the time passing.

Synonyms

obsessed
vsengrossed
245 4.8

Very strongly interested in someone or something and thinking about them all the time

is present full attention from interest rather than long lasting obsession
wrapped up
vsengrossed
  • Informal
62 4.8

Very interested and completely involved in something

is attention from absorption rather than long term devotion
intent
vsengrossed
54 4.9

Giving full attention to something

is attention from deep involvement rather than effortful concentration alone
glued to
vsengrossed
  • Informal
24 4.5

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is full attention due to deep involvement rather than inability to look away
captive
vsengrossed
16 4.4

Deeply interested and unable to look away

is attention from personal involvement rather than a formal state
rapt
vsengrossed
  • Formal
11 7.5

Fully focused and very interested in something

is attention from being absorbed rather than from joyful emotion
spellbound
vsengrossed
7 5.2

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is full attention from involvement rather than magical fixation
enthralled
vsengrossed
3 6.9

Very interested and full of wonder, unable to look away

means deep involvement without necessarily causing wonder
fascinated
vsengrossed
1 2.1

Very interested and unable to stop paying attention

is full involvement that may lack emotional intensity
entranced
vsengrossed
1 5.8

Amazed and very happy so you cannot look away

is attention from involvement rather than from surprise or wonder
hypnotized
vsengrossed
  • US
1 5.3

Your attention is fixed as if under a spell

is involvement-driven focus rather than an induced trance
bemused
vsengrossed
1 6.7

Lost in thought and not paying attention to what is around

is focused attention on an external activity rather than inner thought
absorbed
vsengrossed
3.6

Giving all your attention to something and not noticing other things

is full attention because of being highly interested rather than neutral focus
enrapt
vsengrossed
  • Literature
7.8

Feeling great joy and deep interest

is attention from involvement rather than strong joyful feeling
captivated
vsengrossed
3.9

Very interested and pleased so you cannot stop watching or listening

is broader involvement rather than attraction or charm
mesmerized
vsengrossed
  • US
6.0

Unable to look away because something is very interesting

is full focus from interest rather than an uncanny trance
engaged
vsengrossed
3.4

Giving full attention to an activity or idea

is attention from absorbing interest rather than mere busyness
wrapped
vsengrossed
  • Informal
4.1

Giving full attention to something

is attention from active interest rather than just being occupied
enwrapped
vsengrossed
7.6

Deeply focused on something and not aware of other things

is attention from focused involvement rather than from emotional delight
elbow-deep in
vsengrossed
  • Informal
6.8

Very involved in an activity, often working with your hands

is mental full attention rather than primarily hands-on immersion
up to someone's ears in
vsengrossed
  • Informal
7.7

Very busy with more work than you can handle

is focused attention from interest rather than overloaded busyness

Antonyms

20 3.5

Not wanting to know about or take part in something

Not able to pay attention because your mind is on other things

How Absorbed

spellbound
7 5.2
engrossed
1 4.5
involved
79 3.5
interested
1.0

Surface Forms

engrossed positive

Morphology

engrossed = engross (semi-transparent) = en + gross + ed

The verb 'engross' is derived from 'en-' + 'gross', where 'gross' originally meant 'large' or 'whole', but the modern meaning involves absorbing attention.

Etymology

Engrossed comes from an old root gross meaning 'large'. Long ago, to 'engross' could mean to fill up a page, and by that picture something that 'fills' your mind takes all your attention, so being engrossed means you are fully absorbed.