interesting

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English

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Etymology

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From interest +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

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  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɪntɹəstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɛstɪŋ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɪntəɹəstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɛstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɪstɪŋ/, /ˈɪn(t)əɹɛstɪŋ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧ter‧est‧ing

Adjective

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interesting (comparative more interesting, superlative most interesting)

  1. (obsolete) Of concern; affecting, important.
  2. Arousing or holding the attention or interest of someone.
    • 2015-11-22, Stan Lee, "Marvel's Stan Lee: 'I'd never really thought of doing comics for a living.'", The Guardian:
      Comics were just another form of entertainment to me, but it got to be more and more interesting every day.
  3. (euphemistic) Pregnant. (used with situation and condition) [from 18th c.]
    • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle [], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., [], →OCLC:
      I found myself in a fair way of being a mother; and that I might be near my own relations, in such an interesting situation, I and my dear companion departed from H—n, not without great reluctance [] .
    • 1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, [], published 1839, →OCLC:
      Mrs Lenville (who, as has been before hinted, was in an interesting state) rushed from the rear rank of ladies, and uttering a piercing scream threw herself upon the body.
    • 1928, William Babington Maxwell, “Part II. Enid”, in We Forget Because We Must, A Story of Decades and Lustres[1], 1st edition, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran and Co., published 1928, →OCLC, page 45:
      I’m afraid I seem to make heavy weather of my interesting condition.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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interesting

  1. present participle and gerund of interest