absorbing

English

Etymology

From absorb +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əbˈzɔː.bɪŋ/, /əbˈsɔː.bɪŋ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /æbˈzɔɹ.bɪŋ/, /æbˈsɔɹ.bɪŋ/, /əbˈzɔɹ.bɪŋ/, /əbˈsɔɹ.bɪŋ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)bɪŋ

Adjective

absorbing (comparative more absorbing, superlative most absorbing)

  1. Engrossing, that sustains someone's interest. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
    an absorbing pursuit
    • 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport[1]:
      It was a dramatic finish to an absorbing, fast-paced game but Blackburn will be deeply unhappy with referee Anthony Taylor as Nzonzi's handball was harsh.
  2. (statistics, of a state) Allowing a process to enter it, but not to leave it.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

absorbing

  1. present participle and gerund of absorb

References

  1. ^ Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “absorbing”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 9.