This invention is to provide an absorbent member and a method for making such an absorbent member. The absorbent member comprises modified water absorbent having good production efficiency, good absorbency against pressure, good absorption speed, gel strength, good liquid permeability, and the like. The modified water absorbent resin is made by a method, which comprises (i) a mixing step comprising mixing a water absorbent resin, water, and a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator without addition of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, to obtain a water absorbent resin composition, and (ii) an irradiating step comprising irradiating said water absorbent resin composition obtained in the mixing step with active energy rays, wherein the surface water content of said water absorbent resin in said water absorbent resin composition at least at any point of time in the irradiating step (ii) is controlled to a level of not lower than 3.0% by weight based on 100% by weight of the water absorbent resin. Preferably, the amount of water mixed in said step (i) exceeds 20 parts by weight and is not more than 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the water absorbent resin.