engrossment

/ɪnˈɡrəʊs.mənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈɡroʊs.mənt/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈgrō-smənt en-/ (ame, mw)

engrossment — noun

  • engrossmentsingular
  • engrossmentsplural

1. the condition of being so caught up in an activity, problem, or thought that you

1.名詞C2
釋義

the condition of being so caught up in an activity, problem, or thought that you stop noticing anything around you.

例句

Samir's engrossment in the chess match was so complete that he missed his train home.

engrossment in [activity] — common preposition pattern

Yael watched her son with fond amusement, recognising the engrossment of a child meeting puppies for the first time.

engrossment of [person, group]

同義詞
  • absorption

    near-synonym; slightly more common in modern writing.

  • preoccupation

    often suggests a worry or concern, not just deep interest.

  • immersion

    emphasises being surrounded by an experience, often by choice.

  • concentration

    more neutral; describes focused mental effort without the 'lost in' feel.

反義詞
  • distraction

    the opposite state — attention pulled away in many directions.

  • detachment

    deliberate emotional or mental distance from a topic.

文法句型

engrossment in [activity/topic]

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'in' plus the focus of attention (a task, hobby, book, problem). The noun form is much rarer than the verb 'engross' or the adjective 'engrossed'; learners encounter it mainly in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌She felt a deep engrossment to the painting.
✅She felt a deep engrossment in the painting.
💡the focus of attention takes 'in', not 'to' or 'with'.
❌His engrossment was the new game.
✅His engrossment was in the new game.' or 'The new game absorbed him completely.
💡'engrossment' names a state, not the thing causing it.

2. in legal practice, the clean copy of a contract, deed, or other legal paper that

2.名詞C2
釋義

in legal practice, the clean copy of a contract, deed, or other legal paper that is prepared for the parties to sign, after all changes have been agreed.

例句

The lawyer printed the engrossment of the property contract on thick cream paper for the signing ceremony.

engrossment of [document] — prepositional phrase

Hassan checked the engrossment carefully before passing it to his client for her signature.

同義詞
反義詞
  • draft

    an earlier version still open to changes.

文法句型

engrossment of [a document]

用法筆記

A technical legal term, mainly used in British and Commonwealth legal practice. The engrossment is the version actually signed; earlier marked-up drafts are not engrossments. Distinguish from sense 1, which is an abstract state of mind, not a physical document.

常見錯誤

❌They signed the engrossment draft and then made changes.
✅They signed the engrossment, which was the final draft.
💡by definition, an engrossment is already final; further changes would create a new engrossment.
❌The lawyer wrote an engrossment about the case.
✅The lawyer wrote a memo about the case.
💡an engrossment is a clean copy of an agreement, not a written opinion or report.