interesting
interesting
Pronunciation
Interesting
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ˈɪn.tə.rɛs.tɪŋ/ or /ˈɪn.trɛs.tɪŋ/ (often reduced)
Common Pronunciation 1 (4 syllables): /ˈɪn.tə.rɛs.tɪŋ/
Syllable 1: /ɪn/
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
Syllable 2: /tə/
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa, unstressed vowel)
Syllable 3: /rɛs/
/r/ as in "red" (voiced alveolar approximant)
/ɛ/ as in "bed" (short mid front unrounded vowel)
/s/ as in "hiss" (voiceless alveolar fricative)
Syllable 4: /tɪŋ/
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/ŋ/ as in "sing" (voiced velar nasal)
Common Pronunciation 2 (3 syllables, often reduced): /ˈɪn.trɛs.tɪŋ/
Syllable 1: /ɪn/
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
Syllable 2: /trɛs/
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)
/r/ as in "red" (voiced alveolar approximant)
/ɛ/ as in "bed" (short mid front unrounded vowel)
/s/ as in "hiss" (voiceless alveolar fricative)
Syllable 3: /tɪŋ/
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/ŋ/ as in "sing" (voiced velar nasal)
Word Form Variations
Interesting" is primarily an adjective (derived from the verb "interest"). It can also function as a present participle in verb phrases.
Adjective:
Base form: interesting
Comparative: more interesting
Superlative: most interesting
Verb (from which "interesting" is derived as a present participle):
Base form: interest
Past tense: interested
Past participle: interested
Present participle: interesting
Third-person singular present: interests
Noun (derived):
interest (singular)
interests (plural)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Arousing curiosity, fascination, or attention; holding one's mental engagement due to novelty, significance, or appeal.
Synonyms: captivating, engaging, fascinating, appealing, thought-provoking, intriguing, stimulating
Antonyms: boring, dull, uninteresting, tedious, monotonous, tiresome, unappealing
Having qualities that provoke an emotional or intellectual response, even if that response is complex or mixed; noteworthy or distinctive.
Synonyms: remarkable, noteworthy, distinctive, unusual, curious, peculiar (in a neutral sense of drawing attention)
Antonyms: unremarkable, ordinary, common, typical, predictable
Verb (Present Participle use, as in "It is interesting...")
Causing one's attention or curiosity to be drawn; having the quality of exciting intellectual concern.
Synonyms: captivating, drawing attention, engaging, enthralling, intriguing
Antonyms: boring, repelling, dulling
Examples of Use
Books:
"The detective found the old, dusty diary to be an incredibly interesting piece of evidence, filled with cryptic notes and sketches." (From a fictional mystery novel, generic example)
"Darwin's theory of natural selection presented an interesting and revolutionary perspective on the origins of species." (From a science textbook or historical account, generic example)
Newspapers:
"An interesting new study suggests a link between sleep patterns and cognitive function in adolescents." (From a science or health section, generic example)
"The political debate took an interesting turn when the candidates began discussing climate change solutions." (From a news report or political commentary, generic example)
Online Publications:
"Ten Interesting Facts You Never Knew About the Roman Empire." (From a history blog or educational website, e.g., History.com)
"This new art exhibit features an interesting blend of traditional painting and digital projection." (From an arts and culture review site, e.g., Hyperallergic)
"An interesting discussion is unfolding on Reddit regarding the ethics of AI in creative writing." (From a social media platform or online forum, generic example)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Well, that was an interesting development. What do we do now?" (Dialogue from a suspense or action movie, generic example)
Television Series: "This ancient artifact has a truly interesting history, believed to be cursed by a forgotten deity." (Dialogue from a fantasy or adventure series, e.g., Indiana Jones or National Treasure)
Music (Song Lyrics): "You make life interesting, in every single way." (From a romantic or appreciative song, generic example)
Video Games: "The new quest line offers some interesting moral choices for the player." (In-game review or dialogue, e.g., The Witcher 3)
Podcasts: "Our guest provides an interesting perspective on the future of remote work, challenging conventional wisdom." (From a business or future-focused podcast, generic example)
General Public Discourse:
"That's an interesting idea; tell me more about it." (Common expression of positive curiosity)
"The weather today is quite interesting – sunny one minute, pouring rain the next!" (Common casual observation)
"He has an interesting way of looking at things." (Common description of someone's unique perspective)
"It was an interesting challenge, but we managed to overcome it." (Common reflection on an experience)
"You know, that's an interesting point I hadn't considered before." (Common admission in a conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Interesting
"May you live in interesting times." (Attributed as an ancient Chinese curse/blessing)
"The most interesting people are those who have lived life fully." (Lesser-known, philosophical observation)
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." - Marcus Aurelius
"The great thing about a 'real' story is that it's just so much more interesting than fiction." (Lesser-known, often said by storytellers)
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back."
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller
"The most interesting answers are often found in the questions themselves." (Original quote, philosophical)
"It's an interesting world, full of challenges and opportunities." (Lesser-known, general observation)
"What makes a story interesting is not just what happens, but how it happens." (Lesser-known, about narrative)
"The most interesting thing about you is probably the part you keep hidden." (Original quote, psychological)
Etymology
The word "interesting" is closely related to "interested" and comes from the same Latin roots, evolving through French.
It stems from the Latin word "interesse," a combination of "inter" (meaning "between" or "among") and "esse" (meaning "to be"). This literally meant "to be between" but evolved to mean "to make a difference," "to concern," or "to matter."
This Latin term influenced Old French to form "interesse," which meant "to concern" or "to affect."
From Old French, the verb "interest" made its way into English. The word "interesting" itself, as an adjective, is the present participle of the verb "interest."
The first known use of "interesting" as an adjective, meaning "having the quality of exciting curiosity or attention," appeared in English in the early 18th century. Before this, "interest" primarily referred to a personal stake or concern. But as the verb "to interest" developed the meaning of "to engage the attention or curiosity of," its present participle "interesting" naturally came to describe things that possess this quality – things that capture our attention and make us curious.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Interesting
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "interesting," supplemented as needed:
An interesting point: A noteworthy or thought-provoking idea.
Keep things interesting: To maintain variety or excitement.
Interesting times: A period of significant change or upheaval (often used ironically).
That's interesting: A polite, often non-committal, response to something.
More interesting than usual: Suggesting something is particularly noteworthy on a given occasion.
An interesting development: A new and often unexpected turn of events.
Something of interest: Something that arouses curiosity or concern. (Uses the noun "interest")
Food for thought: Something to consider deeply and reflect upon. (Synonymous effect for being interesting)
A captivating read: A book or text that holds one's attention strongly. (Uses a synonym, "captivating")
What a twist! An exclamation for a surprising or unexpected turn, making a story more interesting. (Implied effect)
A fascinating subject: A topic that holds deep appeal and engages the mind. (Using a synonym, "fascinating")
Pique one's curiosity: To make someone interested. (Original phrase, focuses on initiating interest)
Grab attention: To capture someone's focus. (Similar to making something interesting)
Hold court: To be the center of attention and provide entertaining conversation. (Implies one is interesting)
A compelling narrative: A story that is so engaging it demands attention. (Using a synonym, "compelling")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of interesting from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
