interesting
English meaning: Interesting
Definition
To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.
Example
“Action films don't really interest me.”
Another example: “It's interesting how the two stories contradict each other.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Although tagged as a verb here, 'interesting' is overwhelmingly used as an adjective in everyday speech and writing to describe something that holds attention; said flatly, it can be a polite or ironic way of avoiding real praise.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From the verb 'interest' (to concern or involve), via Anglo-French and Latin 'interesse' (to be between, to matter), with the participial adjective established by the 18th century.
Synonyms
- riveting
- intriguing
- engrossing
- fascinating
- absorbing
- gripping
- unputdownable
- newsworthy
Antonyms / Opposites
- boring
- dull
- tedious
- uninteresting
Related Words
Common Collocations
- interesting point
- interesting fact
- find it interesting
- make it interesting
- interesting question
- sounds interesting
Word Forms
interest (v & n); interested; interesting; interestingly (adv)
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
Maturity = 146,932.81 · Interest earned = 46,932.81
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B