This paper does not absorb ink.
Source: tatoeba (59057)
Absorb
/əbˈzɔːb/
Synonyms for "absorb" (295 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (59)
Verb(15 words)
ablateabsorb the attentionadsorbamuseappreciateapprehendappropriatearrestassimilatebe with onebleed whiteblotblot upburn upbusybuy upcatchcatch oncatch up incharm
Noun(11 words)
Strong matches (89)
Noun(16 words)
digdigestdistractdivertdraindrain of resourcesdraw indrinkdrink indrink upeateat upembarrassembodyenchantengageengage the attentionengage the mindengage the thoughtsengross
Show 33 more words
engross the mindengross the thoughtsenmeshentangleenthrallerodeexerciseexhaustexpendfascinatefathomfill the mindfilter infinishfinish offfollowgetget hold ofget the driftget the hang ofget the ideaget the picturegobblegobble upgrabgraspgriphavehave it tapedholdhold spellboundhold the interesthypnotize
Verb(19 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (147)
imbibeimbueimmerseimplicateimpoverishimpregnateincorporateinfiltrateinfuseingestinterestintrigueinvolveinvolve the interestkenkillknowlearnmastermesmerize
Show 48 more words
metabolizemonopolizemonopolize the thoughtsobsessobsess the mindoccupyoccupy the attentionoccupy the mindosmosepercolatepercolate inpermeatepredigestpreoccupyprepossessreadrealizeretainsavvyseep inseizeseize the meaningseize the mindsensesew upslurp upsoaksoak insoak upsorbspellbindspendspongesquandersuck drysuck insuck intoswallowswallow upswill uptaketake intake uptangleunderstanduse upwaste awaywear away
Verb(41 words)
imbibedimbibesimmerseimmersedimmersesincorporatedincorporatesingestingestsintegratesinternalizeinternalizedinternalizeslearnlearntlermesmerizedoccupyoccupyingpay for
Show 21 more words
plungepreoccupiespreoccupyingreceive energyrivettedsequesterssoak up energysop upsoppedspongedsteepsubmergesubsumesubsumedsubsumingsucksuck uptake in energytake overtake upvacuumed
Noun(35 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: take in, imbibe, soak up, integrate, ablate.
- Sentence evidence is available for absorb, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "absorb".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "absorb"
Keep "absorb" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "absorb" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "absorb", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "absorb" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
32 entriesShowing 16 of 32 words.
More specific
6 entriesconceptual understandingmoisture absorptionretaining factssolar absorptionthermal absorptionwater absorption
Collocations
6 entriesinformation absorptionmoisture absorptionrate of absorptionshock absorptionsunlight absorptionwater absorption
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
48 translations across 19 languages.
Arabic
3 entries- اِتَّخَذَ verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- تَحَمَّلَ verb (to endure)
- قَاسَى verb (to endure)
Bulgarian
1 entries- абсорбирам verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Catalan
1 entries- absorbir verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 吸入 verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- 忍耐 verb (to endure)
Dutch
4 entries- absorberen verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- in zich opnemen verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- intrekken verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- ondergaan verb (to endure)
Estonian
1 entries- neelduma verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Finnish
4 entries- absorboida verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- imeä verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- kestää verb (to endure)
- sietää verb (to endure)
Georgian
1 entries- შეწოვა verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
German
3 entries- absorbieren verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- aushalten verb (to endure)
- ertragen verb (to endure)
Hungarian
4 entries- abszorbeál verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- befog verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- beszív verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- csillapít verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Italian
1 entries- assorbire verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Norwegian
2 entries- absorbere verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- utholde verb (to endure)
Portuguese
1 entries- absorver verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Russian
4 entries- абсорби́ровать verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- вбира́ть verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- вобра́ть verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- впи́тывать verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Spanish
1 entries- absorber verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Swedish
4 entries- absorbera verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- absorbera verb (to endure)
- uppta verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- uppta verb (to endure)
Thai
1 entries- ดูดซับ verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Turkish
2 entries- absorbe etmek verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
- soğurmak verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Ukrainian
1 entries- абсорбува́ти verb ((physics, chemistry) to take up by chemical or physical action)
Sample sentences
22 total sentences available.
These pajamas absorb sweat well.
Source: tatoeba (60704)
I can't absorb all of the lesson in an hour.
Source: tatoeba (252456)
Trees give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
Source: tatoeba (266244)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "absorb"?
Closest matches include take in, imbibe, soak up, integrate, ablate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "absorb"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.