Interesting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stiŋ/ in·ter·est·ing

Meaning & Definition of Interesting

Interesting (adjective)

  1. holding the attention, arousing interest

Interesting (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. holding the attention or provoking interest

    "an interesting lecture on conflicts in the Middle East since the demise of the Ottoman Empire"

    similar: absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, intriguing, involving, riveting
    related: breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling, provocative, tantalizing, emphatic, showy, splashy, striking, alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, curious, odd, unusual, weird, amazing, astonishing, astounding, eventful, eye-opening, fabulous, marvelous, surprising, wonderful, wondrous, amusing, entertaining
    opposite: boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious, uninteresting
    near: operose, tiresome, tiring, wearisome, wearying, sterile, unexciting, dreary, humdrum, pedantic, pedestrian, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Interesting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold the attention of

    "the book didn't interest me, so I ended up watching the parade of people on the sidewalk"

    similar: absorbing, bemusing, busying, catching up, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, enwrapping, fascinating, gripping, immersing, intriguing, involving, occupying, catching one's eye
    related: alluring, attracting, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, obsessing, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, distracting, preoccupying, hogging, monopolizing
    near: boring, jading, palling, tiring, wearying

Related Entry: Interest (verb)

Interest is a different word from Interesting. The synonyms below are for interest, not for interesting.

  1. to hold the attention of

    "the book didn't interest me, so I ended up watching the parade of people on the sidewalk"

    similar: absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, intrigue, involve, occupy, catch one's eye
    related: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Interesting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Interesting:

absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing, intriguing, involving, riveting, bemusing, busying, catching up, enwrapping, occupying, catching one's eye

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Interesting

Words with the opposite meaning of Interesting:

boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious, uninteresting

Related Words for Interesting

breathtaking, electric, electrifying, exciting, exhilarating, galvanizing, inspiring, rousing, stimulating, stirring, thrilling, provocative, tantalizing, emphatic, showy, splashy, striking, alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, spellbinding, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, curious, odd, unusual, weird

Near Antonyms of Interesting

operose, tiresome, tiring, wearisome, wearying, sterile, unexciting, dreary, humdrum, pedantic, pedestrian, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, jading, palling

Word Forms of Interesting

Derived words: interestingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Interesting

First known use: 1768

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Interesting

Frequently Asked Questions about Interesting

What does "Interesting" mean?

"Interesting" means holding the attention, arousing interest. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: holding the attention, arousing interest. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Interesting"?

Other words for "Interesting" include absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating and gripping. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Interesting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Interesting"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Interesting". Common alternatives include absorbing, arresting, consuming, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, immersing and intriguing.

What is the opposite of "Interesting"?

Antonyms of "Interesting" include boring, drab, dry, dull, heavy, monotonous, tedious and uninteresting. Near antonyms include operose, tiresome, tiring and wearisome.

How do you use "Interesting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Interesting" in a sentence: "an interesting lecture on conflicts in the Middle East since the demise of the Ottoman Empire"; "the book didn't interest me, so I ended up watching the parade of people on the sidewalk".

Is "Interesting" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Interesting" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Interesting" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Interesting" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Interesting"?

"Interesting" is pronounced /ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stiŋ/ and divided into syllables as in·ter·est·ing.