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absorber

ab-sor-BEHR/absoɾˈbeɾ/

to soak up

Also: to absorb
VerbA2regular er
A yellow sponge sitting on a wooden surface, soaking up a small puddle of blue water.
gerundabsorbiendo
past Participleabsorbido
infinitiveabsorber

📝 In Action

La esponja absorbe el agua derramada.

A1

The sponge soaks up the spilled water.

Este papel especial sirve para absorber la grasa de la comida.

A2

This special paper is used to soak up the grease from the food.

Las plantas absorben nutrientes a través de las raíces.

B1

Plants absorb nutrients through their roots.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • chupar (to suck up/soak up)
  • empapar (to drench/soak)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • capacidad de absorber – ability to absorb
  • absorber líquidos – to absorb liquids

to take in / assimilate

Also: to merge / incorporate
VerbB1regular er
A child sitting on a large pile of colorful books, looking curiously at an open book with glowing light coming from the pages.

📝 In Action

Los niños absorben conocimientos con mucha facilidad.

B1

Children take in knowledge very easily.

Una empresa grande absorbió a la pequeña compañía local.

B2

A large corporation absorbed the small local company.

Es demasiada información para absorber en un solo día.

B2

It's too much information to take in in a single day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • absorber información – to take in information
  • ser absorbido por una empresa – to be merged into a company

to consume / take up

Also: to engross
VerbB2regular er
A small battery icon with a glowing aura being drained by a large, complex machine.

📝 In Action

Mi nuevo trabajo me absorbe todo el tiempo.

B2

My new job takes up all my time.

La lectura de esta novela me absorbió por completo.

C1

Reading this novel completely engrossed me.

No quiero que este problema te absorba la energía.

C1

I don't want this problem to consume your energy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedarse absorto – to be lost in thought or mesmerized

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabsorbieran
yoabsorbiera
túabsorbieras
vosotrosabsorbierais
nosotrosabsorbiéramos
él/ella/ustedabsorbiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabsorban
yoabsorba
túabsorbas
vosotrosabsorbáis
nosotrosabsorbamos
él/ella/ustedabsorba

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesabsorbieron
yoabsorbí
túabsorbiste
vosotrosabsorbisteis
nosotrosabsorbimos
él/ella/ustedabsorbió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabsorbían
yoabsorbía
túabsorbías
vosotrosabsorbíais
nosotrosabsorbíamos
él/ella/ustedabsorbía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabsorben
yoabsorbo
túabsorbes
vosotrosabsorbéis
nosotrosabsorbemos
él/ella/ustedabsorbe
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "absorber" in Spanish:

to absorb→to engross→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: absorber

Question 1 of 3

How do you spell the form of 'absorber' for 'I absorb'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
absorción(absorption) — Noun
absorbente(absorbent) — Adjective
absorbido(absorbed) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'absorbere', which combines 'ab' (away/from) and 'sorbere' (to suck or swallow).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: absorbFrench: absorber

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'absorber' ever spelled with a 'v'?

No. In Spanish, it is always spelled with 'b'. This is a common mistake because it is often confused with 'sorber' or English spelling influences.

What is the difference between 'absorber' and 'sorber'?

'Absorber' means to soak up (like a sponge), while 'sorber' means to sip or slurp a liquid (like through a straw).

Does 'absorber' change its stem like 'entender'?

No, it is a completely regular -er verb. The 'o' stays an 'o' throughout the whole conjugation.