A sheet-like article (1) for an absorbent article of the invention includes a plurality of absorbent units (4), each including: a long base portion (2) and water-absorbent polymer particles (3) that are fixed to a surface of first side of the long base portion (2). In the sheet-like article (1), the absorbent units (4) are arranged such that the longitudinal direction thereof is oriented in one direction. When the water-absorbent polymer particles (3) absorb a liquid, the water-absorbent polymer particles (3) swell beyond the lateral side edge portions (2s), of the long base portion (2), that extend along the longitudinal direction, and a position, in the thickness direction, of each long base portion is varied from the position thereof before absorbing the liquid.
