noun · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/əbˈzɔːp.ʃn̩/
UK:/əbˈsɔːp.ʃn̩/
US:/æbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/
US:/æbˈzɔɹp.ʃn̩/
US:/əbˈzɔɹp.ʃn̩/
US:/əbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 B Z AO1 R P SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:AH0 B S AO1 R P SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The sponge showed remarkable absorption of water.
Plants rely on the absorption of sunlight for photosynthesis.
His complete absorption in the novel made him lose track of time.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
engulfing; swallowing up, as of bodies or land.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
assimilation; incorporation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
the absorption of a smaller tribe into a larger
the absorption of bodies in a whirlpool
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
the imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action, of radiant energy; the process of being neutrons being absorbed by the nucleus; interception.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
The process in which incident radiant energy is retained by a substance (such as an air mass) by conversion to some other form of energy (such as heat).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
in living organisms, the process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and organs; taking in by various means, such as by osmosis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: medicine, physiology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
absorption in some employment
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Mental assimilation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
The retaining of electrical energy for a short time after it has been introduced to the dielectric.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h2epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin ab- Proto-Indo-European *srebh- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *srobhéyeti Proto-Italic *sorβeō Latin sorbeō Latin absorbeō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin absorptiōder. English absorption First attested in 1597. From Latin absorptiō (“a sucking in”), from absorbeō (“absorb”). Morphologically absorb + -tion.
Across languages
Translations
158 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
اِسْتِيعَاب
(istīʕāb)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Bulgarian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Bulgarian:
поглъ́щане
(poglǎ́štane)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Bulgarian:
всму́кване
(vsmúkvane)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Chinese Mandarin:
吸收
(xīshōu)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Czech:
absorpce
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Czech:
vstřebání
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Danish:
absorbering
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Danish:
absorption
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Dutch:
absorptie
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Dutch:
opzuiging
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Esperanto:
absorbo
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Estonian:
imendumine
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Estonian:
neeldumine
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Finnish:
imeyttäminen
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Finnish:
sulauttaminen
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
French:
absorption
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Galician:
absorción
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
German:
Absorption
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Greek:
απορρόφηση
(aporrófisi)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Hebrew:
ספיגה
(sfigá)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Hebrew:
בליעה
(bliá)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Hebrew:
קליטה
(klitá)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Hindi:
अवशोषण
(avśoṣaṇ)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Indonesian:
absorpsi
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Japanese:
吸収
(kyūshū)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Japanese:
吸い込み
(suikomi)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Korean:
흡수
(heupsu)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Malay:
absorpsi
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Malay:
penyerapan
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Malayalam:
ആഗിരണം
(āgiraṇaṁ)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorpsjon
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorbering
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Norwegian Nynorsk:
absorpsjon
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Polish:
absorpcja
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Polish:
pochłanianie
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Portuguese:
absorção
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Romanian:
absorbire
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Romanian:
absorbție
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Russian:
вса́сывание
(vsásyvanije)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Russian:
впи́тывание
(vpítyvanije)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Russian:
поглоще́ние
(pogloščénije)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Russian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Serbo-Croatian:
апсорпција
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Serbo-Croatian:
apsorpcija
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Spanish:
absorción
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Swahili:
ufyonzaji
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Swedish:
uppsugning
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Tagalog:
sipsip
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Tagalog:
higop
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Turkish:
absorpsiyon
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Turkish:
soğurma
— act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything
Bulgarian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Chinese Mandarin:
吸收
(xīshōu)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Danish:
absorption
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Dutch:
absorptie f incorporatie
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Esperanto:
absorbiteco
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Esperanto:
absorbiĝo
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Estonian:
neeldumine
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Finnish:
imeytyminen
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Finnish:
sulautuminen
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
French:
absorption
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
German:
Absorption
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Greek:
απορρόφηση
(aporrófisi)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Hebrew:
היבלעות
(hibal'út)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Hebrew:
התמזגות
(hitmazgút)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Hebrew:
היקלטות
(hikaltút)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Hebrew:
קליטה
(klitá)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Hindi:
अवशोषण
(avśoṣaṇ)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Indonesian:
absorpsi
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Japanese:
吸収
(kyūshū)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Japanese:
併合
(heigō)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Malay:
absorpsi
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Malay:
penyerapan
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Māori:
mitikanga
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorbering
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorpsjon
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Polish:
absorbowanie
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Polish:
pochłanianie
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Portuguese:
absorção
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Romanian:
absorbție
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Russian:
поглоще́ние
(pogloščénije)
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Turkish:
absorpsiyon
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Turkish:
soğurma
— act or process of being absorbed and made to disappear
Arabic:
اِمْتِصَاص
(imtiṣāṣ)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Bulgarian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Chinese Mandarin:
吸收
(xīshōu)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Dutch:
absorptie
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Dutch:
endosmose
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Finnish:
absorptio
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Finnish:
imeytyminen
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
French:
absorption
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
German:
Absorption
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Greek:
απορρόφηση
(aporrófisi)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Hebrew:
בליעה
(bliá)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Hebrew:
ספיגה
(sfigá)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Hungarian:
abszorpció
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Indonesian:
penyerapan
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Japanese:
吸収
(kyūshū)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Malay:
absorpsi
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Malay:
penyerapan
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorpsjon
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Norwegian Bokmål:
absorbering
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Polish:
absorpcja
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Portuguese:
absorção
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Romanian:
absorbție
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Russian:
впи́тывание
(vpítyvanije)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Russian:
поглоще́ние
(pogloščénije)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Russian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Serbo-Croatian:
апсорпција
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Serbo-Croatian:
apsorpcija
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Tagalog:
pagsigom
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Turkish:
absorpsiyon
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Turkish:
soğurma
— chemistry, physics: imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action
Arabic:
اِمْتِصَاص
(imtiṣāṣ)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Bulgarian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Chinese Mandarin:
吸收
(xīshōu)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Dutch:
absorptie
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Dutch:
opname
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Dutch:
incorporatie
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Finnish:
imeytyminen
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
French:
absorption
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
German:
Absorption
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Greek:
απορρόφηση
(aporrófisi)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Hebrew:
ספיגה
(sfigá)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Hungarian:
felszívódás
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Indonesian:
absorpsi
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Indonesian:
penyerapan
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Japanese:
吸収
(kyūshū)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Malay:
absorpsi
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Malay:
penyerapan
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Polish:
przyswajanie
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Portuguese:
absorção
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Romanian:
absorbție
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Russian:
абсо́рбция
(absórbcija)
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Serbo-Croatian:
апсорпција
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Serbo-Croatian:
apsorpcija
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Tagalog:
pagsigom
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Turkish:
absorpsiyon
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Turkish:
soğurma
— physiology: process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed
Chinese Mandarin:
全神貫注 /全神贯注
(quánshénguànzhù)
— entire occupation of the mind
Dutch:
het verdiept zijn in
— entire occupation of the mind
Dutch:
mentale concentratie
— entire occupation of the mind
Dutch:
het opgaan in
— entire occupation of the mind
Esperanto:
absorbo
— entire occupation of the mind
Finnish:
uppoutuminen
— entire occupation of the mind
German:
Vertiefung
— entire occupation of the mind
Greek:
απορρόφηση
(aporrófisi)
— entire occupation of the mind
Hebrew:
משוקעות
(meshukaút)
— entire occupation of the mind
Hebrew:
שקיעה
(shkiá)
— entire occupation of the mind
Japanese:
没頭
(bottō)
— entire occupation of the mind
Japanese:
夢中
(muchū)
— entire occupation of the mind
Polish:
zaabsorbowanie
— entire occupation of the mind
Portuguese:
concentração
— entire occupation of the mind
Russian:
поглощённость
(pogloščónnostʹ)
— entire occupation of the mind
Spanish:
concentración
— entire occupation of the mind
Turkish:
eğilme
— entire occupation of the mind
Norwegian Bokmål:
dielektrisk absorpsjon
— the retaining of electrical energy for a short time after it has been introduced to the dielectric
