engrossing

1 of 2

adjective

en·​gross·​ing in-ˈgrō-siŋ How to pronounce engrossing (audio)
en-
Synonyms of engrossing
: taking up the attention completely : absorbing
engrossingly
in-ˈgrō-siŋ-lē How to pronounce engrossing (audio)
en-
adverb

engrossing

2 of 2

present participle of engross

Synonyms of engrossing

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Adjective

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Examples of engrossing in a Sentence

Adjective an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The protagonist of this engrossing novel, Sophie, begins the story freshly separated, broke, and working on the production crew of a local literary festival. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Many horror hits are more fascinating or engrossing than terrifying. — David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Oct. 2026 However, as Pamela Colloff reveals in her taut and engrossing investigation, a scheming jailhouse snitch’s testimony was largely responsible for putting Dailey on death row for decades. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Yet, the show is neither witty enough to be funny nor serious enough to become engrossing. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engrossing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of engrossing was in 1749

Rhymes for engrossing

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Browse Nearby Words

engrosser
engrossing
engrossingly
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Cite this Entry

“Engrossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engrossing. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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