interesting

interesting — adjective

1. A person, thing, or situation that is interesting makes you feel curious — you w

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

A person, thing, or situation that is interesting makes you feel curious — you want to learn more about it, watch it, or listen to it.

Example

The documentary about deep-sea creatures was so interesting that Lan watched it twice.

so + adjective + that-clause for emphasis on result

Tyler finds ancient history interesting, especially stories about daily life in Rome.

find + object + interesting

Common collocations
  • interesting book
  • interesting question
  • interesting idea
  • interesting person
  • find something interesting
  • interesting to note
Synonyms
  • fascinating

    stronger than interesting; suggests very deep captivation

  • engaging

    suggests active involvement and enjoyment

  • intriguing

    suggests something mysterious or puzzling that draws you in

Antonyms
  • boring

    the opposite in terms of holding attention

  • dull

    suggests something that fails completely to spark curiosity

Grammar Patterns

interesting + to-infinitive

find + object + interesting

it + be + interesting + that-clause

Usage Note

Common patterns include: 'It is interesting + to-infinitive' (It was interesting to meet her); 'find + object + interesting' (I find his work interesting); and 'It is interesting + that-clause' (It is interesting that no one called).

Common Mistakes

I am very interesting in history.
I am very interested in history.
'interesting' describes the thing that causes curiosity; 'interested' describes the person who feels curiosity.

2. If you describe something as interesting, you mean it is unusual or strange in a

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

If you describe something as interesting, you mean it is unusual or strange in a way that makes you curious, although you cannot easily explain why.

Example

There is an interesting smell coming from the kitchen — it smells like burnt honey.

sensory verb + interesting (unusual quality)

That's interesting — the clock on the wall has been ticking backwards all morning.

Common collocations
  • interesting taste
  • interesting smell
  • interesting habit
  • interesting situation
  • look interesting
Synonyms
  • peculiar

    suggests oddness that stands out noticeably

  • curious

    suggests strange but worth investigating

  • unusual

    milder, less evaluative than 'interesting' in this sense

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    not strange or remarkable in any way

  • normal

    conforming to what is expected, not odd

Grammar Patterns

be + interesting (with unusual meaning)

taste/smell/look + interesting

Usage Note

This sense is often used to describe sensory experiences (taste, smell, sight) or situations that are hard to classify. The speaker typically leaves the listener to decide whether the strangeness is good or bad.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe things that hold your attention, but with different shades of strength and style. 'Interesting' is the most general and neutral — it covers anything that makes you curious. 'Fascinating' is much stronger and suggests deep, almost irresistible captivation (a fascinating story you cannot stop reading). 'Engaging' implies active involvement — an engaging speaker makes you want to participate, not just listen. 'Intriguing' adds a layer of mystery or puzzle — an intriguing question makes you wonder about the answer. 'Stimulating' is more intellectual, suggesting something that excites your mind in a productive way (a stimulating debate). In everyday conversation, 'interesting' is the safest choice; use 'fascinating' for strong enthusiasm, 'engaging' for interactive situations, and 'intriguing' for things that make you think harder.

fascinating ↗engaging ↗intriguing ↗stimulating

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchEnglish

The word 'interesting' comes from the verb 'interest', which entered English from the Anglo-French 'interesse' and Latin 'interesse', meaning 'to be between, to concern, to matter'. Originally, 'interest' was a legal term about financial or property rights. By the 1700s, 'interested' meant 'having a stake or concern in something', and from there 'interesting' developed its modern sense of 'arousing curiosity or attention'. The second, milder sense of 'odd or unusual' emerged in the 1800s as a polite way to describe something unexpected.