Why is the concentrated sulfuric acid in the esterification reaction a water absorbent rather than a dehydrating agent, not an intermolecular dehydration?

Why is the concentrated sulfuric acid in the esterification reaction a water absorbent rather than a dehydrating agent, not an intermolecular dehydration?

A water-absorbing agent is said to react reversibly with water, and a dehydrating agent also produces water but not a reversible reaction.

A water-absorbing agent is said to react reversibly with water and dehydrating agent also produces water but not reversibly.

How to mix concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid with water absorbent How to Mix Concentrated Sulfuric Acid and Concentrated Nitric Acid concentrated sulfuric acid as catalyst and absorbent

Compare the concentrated sulfuric acid dissolved in water, add the concentrated sulfuric acid drop by drop into the concentrated nitric acid, and stir it while adding. If the reactants are less than two kinds, then the concentrated sulfuric acid is a catalyst and dehydrating agent. If the reactants are two or more kinds, the concentrated sulfuric acid is a water absorbent and a catalyst.