What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subsume
Example
The concept of 'justice' can be subsumed under the broader category of 'morality'. [subsumed: verb]
Example
The new policy subsumes all previous regulations on the matter. [subsumes: present tense]
absorb
Example
The sponge absorbed all the water from the sink. [absorbed: past tense]
Example
She was able to absorb the new material quickly and easily. [absorb: verb]
Example
The padding in the helmet helps absorb the impact of a collision. [absorb: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Absorb is more commonly used than subsume in everyday language. Absorb is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while subsume is less common and typically used in academic or technical writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between subsume and absorb?
Subsume is more formal than absorb and is typically used in academic or technical writing.
