ENGROSS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does engross mean? 

• ENGROSS (verb)
  The verb ENGROSS has 2 senses:

1. devote (oneself) fully to

2. consume all of one's attention or time

  Familiarity information: ENGROSS used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENGROSS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they engross    ... he / she / it engrosses   
Past simple: engrossed   
Past participle: engrossed   
-ing form: engrossing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Devote (oneself) fully to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

absorb; engross; engulf; immerse; plunge; soak up; steep

Context example:

He immersed himself into his studies

Hypernyms (to "engross" is one way to...):

center; centre; concentrate; focus; pore; rivet (direct one's attention on something)

Verb group:

immerse; plunge (cause to be immersed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "engross"):

drink; drink in (be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

engrossment (the quality of being intent and concentrated)

engrossment (the mental state of being preoccupied by something)

engrossment (complete attention; intense mental effort)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Consume all of one's attention or time

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

absorb; engage; engross; occupy

Context example:

Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely

Hypernyms (to "engross" is one way to...):

interest (excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "engross"):

involve (occupy or engage the interest of)

consume (engage fully)

rivet (hold (someone's attention))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to engross Sue

Derivation:

engrossment (the quality of being intent and concentrated)

engrossment (the mental state of being preoccupied by something)

engrossment (complete attention; intense mental effort)

 Context examples 

Grant, which seemed entirely to engross them, and Mrs. Grant occupied at the tea-table, he began talking of them with more particularity to his other sister.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But poor Harriet was such an engrossing charge!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Her own feelings entirely engrossed her; her wretchedness was most acute on finding herself obliged to go directly home.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Anne could listen no longer; she could not even have told how the poor Admiral's complexion escaped; her letter engrossed her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“Excellent!” said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour as his attention became more engrossed by the case.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She went away with the message, and, engrossed with our work, I clean forgot all about him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

That the engrossing object of—HEEP—was, next to gain, to subdue Mr. and Miss W. (of his ulterior views in reference to the latter I say nothing) entirely to himself.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He and I have been at times thrown a good deal together, while you have been wholly engrossed on the most affectionate principle by my mother.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of his figure; but Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, followed them in silence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight—so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)