interesting

The word “interesting” means holding someone's attention; engaging or thought-provoking. In plain terms, describes something that grabs your attention or makes you want to know more.

“Interesting” is pronounced IHNT-ruhs-tihng (/ˈɪntəɹəstɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “interesting” used in a sentence: “That was an interesting documentary about deep-sea creatures.”

Words with a similar meaning to “interesting” include absorbing and gripping.

The opposite of “interesting” — its antonyms — are uninteresting, boring and soggy.

“Interesting” is an adjective.

“Interesting” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

'Interesting' describes something that causes interest — a book, an idea, a place: 'The film was interesting.' 'Interested' describes how a person feels: 'I am interested in the film.' A simple rule: things are interesting; people are interested. Saying 'I am interesting' claims you fascinate others, which is rarely what learners mean.

The most common opposite is 'boring' — failing to hold attention. Other opposites include dull, tedious, and uninteresting. Something interesting draws you in and makes you want to know more, while something boring makes your attention drift away. The right choice depends on how strongly you want to express the lack of interest.

Usually, yes — it signals that something engages the mind and is worth attention. But tone matters. A flat or hesitant 'that's interesting' is sometimes used politely to avoid saying you disagree or are unimpressed. In writing, 'interesting' is generally positive, though stronger words like 'fascinating' carry more enthusiasm.

Something is interesting when it holds attention and makes you want to know more — often because it is new, surprising, relevant to you, or thought-provoking. A fresh angle, a puzzle to solve, or a connection to your own life can all spark interest. What one person finds interesting, another may not.