interesting

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English

Etymology

interest +‎ -ing

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɪntəɹəstɪŋ/, /ˈɪnt(ʃ)ɹɛstɪŋ/, /ˈɪnt(ʃ)ɹɪstɪŋ/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɪnt(ʃ)ɹɛstɪŋ/
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Adjective

interesting (comparative more interesting, superlative most interesting)

  1. (sometimes ironic) Arousing or holding the attention or interest of someone.
    • (non-ironic) 2015-11-22, Stan Lee, "Marvel's Stan Lee: 'I'd never really thought of doing comics for a living.'", The Guardian
      I'd never really thought of doing comics for a living. I read other things — novels, plays, everything. One day I heard about an opening in a publishing company. I found out the company, among other things, published comics, and that's where the opening was. So I sort of fell into it. Comics were just another form of entertainment to me, but it got to be more and more interesting every day.
    • (ironic) 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 26:
      ...Sampson told Adrian why he thought Mahler was in actual fact wilder, in the sense of more controlled, than any rock group.
      ‘That's an interesting point’ said Adrian, ‘in the sense of not being interesting at all.’
  2. (euphemistic) strange or unusual, in a negative sense.
    The stew had an interesting flavor.

Usage notes

Interesting is often used in conversation as a polite mildly positive descriptor or, with an ironic deadpan, to mean boring.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

interesting

  1. present participle of interest