When waves hit an object, they can also be taken in, or absorbed, by the object. Look at the size and placement of the rocks along the sea wall. They have been designed so that the waves from the ocean can’t pass through, but also don’t get reflected directly back to the boats. The sea wall absorbs the waves.
Light waves can also be absorbed when they hit an object. Materials that absorb light are dark in color because they don’t reflect much light. They also tend to be warmer because they absorb heat that is being transferred by the light waves. White objects reflect most of the light waves that hit them. They tend to be cooler than dark objects.
Just as hard materials are good at reflecting sound waves, soft materials such as foam and carpets do a good job of absorbing sound. Waves that hit these objects are absorbed and are not reflected back. The energy being carried by the sound wave does not disappear. Instead, it is transformed, for example, to the movement and heating of the material.
