# What is Absorption?

> Also called: Absorbing, Passive absorption, Limit absorption

**In short.** Absorption is heavy aggressive volume at a price that does not move price: market buyers keep lifting the ask and the ask keeps refilling, so the footprint shows a large number on the ask side and a candle that fails to break higher. It means a passive participant is absorbing the aggression, often ahead of a reversal in the direction of the passive side.

Worked example on NQ: at a prior high, three candles print +400, +600, +350 delta and price gains four ticks in total. Buyers are paying the ask, sellers are resting at it, and the book keeps refilling. The trade is a short with a stop above the high once price prints a lower low.

Absorption is distinguished from exhaustion by who is in control: in absorption the passive side wins; in exhaustion the aggressive side simply runs out. The article 'Absorption vs exhaustion' on this site contrasts the two on the footprint, the DOM and the delta.

- Guides on this term: [Absorption vs exhaustion in order flow, explained](https://fillprint.io/en/journal/absorption-vs-exhaustion)
- Guides on this term: [Reading a footprint chart, from the first cell](https://fillprint.io/en/journal/reading-a-footprint-chart)
- Read next: [Exhaustion](https://fillprint.io/en/glossary/exhaustion)
- Read next: [Iceberg order](https://fillprint.io/en/glossary/iceberg-order)
- Read next: [Delta](https://fillprint.io/en/glossary/delta)

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