absorbed the expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absorbed the expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing financial matters, particularly when referring to a situation where a person or organization takes on costs without passing them on to others. Example: "The company absorbed the expense of the unexpected repairs to maintain customer satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

With those delays came increasing costs as the company absorbed the expenses of housing, feeding and protecting its work force while the work sat idle, Mr. Mumm said.

The New York Times

Although the FCC has absorbed the expenses for this effort by diverting staff time and travel funds from other projects, the analysis said more money may be needed if the commission's role is to be expanded.

Los Angeles Times

Business leaders, meanwhile, have spoken out against paid leave, arguing they would rather not absorb the expense.

The Washington Post

Some of those costs will be covered by consumers, but often the vendor will be expected to absorb the expense as part of doing business.

TechCrunch

If Trump is truly concerned about the costs transgender members of the military pose, he could simply choose to stay at the White House this weekend and eat ice cream instead of visiting his favorite golf resort essentially absorbing the expense.

Huffington Post

The cuts, offset by $15 billion in new Medicaid spending, would force state governments to either absorb the expenses or eliminate some services.

The Washington Post

As for Armstrong's reasoning: It's not clear why a company with about 4,000 employees would not be able to absorb the expenses of two employees with abnormally high medical bills.

The Washington Post

A fixed travel allowance would give me incentives to search for cheaper airfares (perhaps freeing up funds for an honorarium), but it would also force me to bear the risk of occasionally absorbing the expenses of nonrefundable tickets for trips that had to be cancelled.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

The museum, which is also home to the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival, an experimental-music series with a dedicated but much smaller audience, absorbed the site-preparation expense.

The New York Times - Arts

It had been set initially at £1.7 billion ($2.7 billion) for 2011 because of fears that banks would have trouble absorbing the additional expense.

The New York Times

It had been set initially at 1.7 billion for 2011 because of fears that banks would have trouble absorbing the additional expense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: "Absorbed the expense" often implies a deliberate decision to manage costs internally for strategic reasons, such as maintaining market share or goodwill.

Common error

Avoid using "absorbed the expense" when the cost was simply paid without any strategic consideration. This phrase implies a deliberate effort to manage costs internally, not just a routine payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absorbed the expense" functions as a verb phrase where 'absorbed' is the verb, 'the' is a definite article, and 'expense' is a noun. According to Ludwig AI, it describes taking on the financial burden of something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absorbed the expense" is a grammatically correct way to describe covering a cost internally, typically to avoid passing it on to others. While not extremely common, Ludwig AI confirms its usability, particularly in news, business, and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "covered the cost" or "bore the cost" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who is bearing the cost and why. It often implies a deliberate cost management strategy, rather than a simple payment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covered the cost

Focuses on the act of paying for something.

paid for the cost

A more direct way of saying that the expense was covered.

bore the cost

Emphasizes enduring or carrying the financial burden.

shouldered the expense

Implies taking on the responsibility for the cost.

took on the financial burden

Focuses on accepting the weight of the expense.

offset the expenditure

Suggests counterbalancing the cost with savings or revenue.

defrayed the expense

Highlights providing money to pay for the cost.

assumed the liability

Highlights the legal or financial obligation of covering the expense.

financed the expenditure

Highlights the provision of funds for the expense.

internalized the cost

Indicates the expense was handled within the organization and not passed on.

FAQs

What does "absorbed the expense" mean?

It means that a person or organization covered the cost of something without passing it on to others, such as customers or employees. It often implies a strategic decision to manage costs internally.

What can I say instead of "absorbed the expense"?

You can use alternatives like "covered the cost", "bore the cost", or "shouldered the expense" depending on the context.

Is "absorbed the expense" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for business, news reporting, and academic writing.

Which is correct, "absorbed the expense" or "absorbed at the expense of"?

"Absorbed the expense" means to cover a cost. "Absorbed at the expense of" implies that something was taken in or used up while negatively affecting something else.