What does engross mean?
Word: Engross
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Engross means to interest someone so much that they give it all their attention.
Synonyms: fascinate
How do you spell engross?
Syllables: en - gross
Tricky part: The close of the word is a double s. Pupils who hear one sound write one letter, and engros is the usual slip.
Watch out for: engros, engrose, engrosse
Memory tip: Two snakes hissing at the end: ss keeps your attention, just as this word says.
Engross in a sentence
Example 1: Long division can engross my sister for an entire evening.
Example 2: The old maps began to engross him the moment he opened the atlas.
Example 3: She was so engrossed in her painting that her tea went cold.
Fun Fact
In older English, to engross a document meant to write it out in large, clear letters. Lawyers still use the word in that sense today.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
engrross
a) r
b) g
c) o
d) n
Show answer
a) r. The only double letter in this word comes at the close, so the r is the intruder.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
A good puzzle can onessrg a child for a whole rainy afternoon.
a) enrich
b) engrave
c) engage
d) engross
Show answer
d) engross. None of the rivals has an s, yet the letters here hold a pair.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word engross as used in the sentence:
A clever plot will engross readers from the opening chapter.
a) absorb
b) captivate
c) occupy
d) bore
Show answer
d) bore. To bore people is to lose their interest, the opposite of what a clever plot does.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. puzzle 2. distract 3. entertain 4. enngross
a) to take someone's mind off a task
b) to make someone feel confused
c) to amuse and interest an audience
d) to hold someone's whole mind
Show answer
d) to hold someone's whole mind. The misspelt word has an extra n; the correct three are distract, entertain and puzzle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Arjun is engrossed in a comic when his mother calls him for dinner. What is likely to happen?
a) He asks her for a second helping
b) He gives the comic back to a friend
c) He runs to the table straight away
d) He does not hear her the first time
Show answer
d) He does not hear her the first time
2. Which task is least likely to engross a child?
a) reading a thrilling adventure story
b) waiting in a slow queue at the bank
c) solving a tricky treasure hunt clue
d) building a model of a space station
Show answer
b) waiting in a slow queue at the bank
