What does "absorption" mean?
The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
Absorption
/æbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
- Grammar: absorption is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ablation, absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorbance.
- Useful contrasts: lower energy state, secretory activity, secretory process.
- Usage evidence: This paper has very good absorption.
How to use "absorption"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "absorption" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "absorption" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "absorption" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "absorption" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "absorption" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ablation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "absorption", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as, countable, uncountable
"The sponge showed remarkable absorption of water."
- 2 the mental state of being preoccupied by something wordnet
- 3 The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,; engulfing; swallowing up, as of bodies or land. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 4 complete attention; intense mental effort wordnet
- 5 The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,; assimilation; incorporation. countable, uncountable
"the absorption of a smaller tribe into a larger"
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 (chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid wordnet
- 7 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. countable, physical, uncountable
"the absorption of light, heat, electricity, etc."
- 8 (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium wordnet
- 9 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). countable, uncountable
- 10 the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion wordnet
- 11 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. countable, uncountable
- 12 the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another wordnet
- 13 Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind. countable, uncountable
"absorption in some employment"
- 14 Mental assimilation. countable, uncountable
- 15 The retaining of electrical energy for a short time after it has been introduced to the dielectric. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
lower energy statesecretory activitysecretory processair emission
Example
"This paper has very good absorption."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "absorption"?
Common synonyms include: ablation, absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorbance, absorbed attention, absorbency.
How do you use "absorption" in a sentence?
This paper has very good absorption.
How do you pronounce "absorption"?
Pronounced /æbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/.
Etymology
First attested in 1597. From Latin absorptiō (“a sucking in”), from absorbeō (“absorb”). Morphologically absorb + -tion.