Words / B1

uhb-ZORB/əbˈzɔːb/

Absorb means take in liquid, heat, or information. A sponge absorbs water; a good student absorbs new ideas. Soak is mostly for liquid and sounds more physical. Take in is a useful informal pair for information. Learners sometimes write “absorb to” — use absorb + object: absorb the news.

Meaning

To take in liquid, information, or energy.

Examples

• “Plants absorb water through their roots.”
• “The cloth absorbed the spilled tea.”
• “It takes time to absorb so many new words.”

Good to know

absorb liquid / information / energy. Informal for learning: take in.

Near in meaning

soak up, take in

New