interesting

adjective

in·​ter·​est·​ing ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stiŋ How to pronounce interesting (audio) ˈin-tə-ˌre- How to pronounce interesting (audio)
ˈin-ˌtre-;
ˈin-tər-
: holding the attention : arousing interest
interestingness noun

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The Pronunciation and History of Interesting

There are a number of ways to say interesting. It can have three syllables or four; it can have an accent only on the first syllable, or it can also have a secondary accent on the "res"; the first "e" can get ignored, resulting in a second syllable of "tres" rhyming with dress; or the second "e" can be ignored, resulting in a syllable that sounds like terse. All of these various pronunciations are well-established and occur in the speech of educated, native speakers of English.

The word interesting originally meant "of concern"; it was a synonym of important. It comes from the verb interest, which in its original use meant "to induce or persuade to participate or engage." If you were interested in something, you were not willing to be a bystander; you felt the need to participate or engage.

Examples of interesting in a Sentence

This is one of the most interesting books I've read all year. It will be interesting to see how she decides to spend the money. This building has an interesting history. I don't find politics very interesting. I found it interesting to learn that she had once lived in California. Most of what he said wasn't interesting to me.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ohio State didn’t need him back in the game, but the rotation that followed was an interesting one. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025 Besides the natural beauty, which is ripe for hiking and birdwatching, the impeccable shopping is an experience with various interesting, high-quality boutiques within walking distance of each other. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025 The race for the district title is about to get interesting. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025 That’s an interesting prospect, in part because Idaho’s Latino population is young, with a median age of 27 compared with 40 for non-Latinos as of 2021, according to the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs’ data book. Idaho Statesman, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interesting

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interesting was in 1768

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Cite this Entry

“Interesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interesting. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

interesting

adjective
in·​ter·​est·​ing ˈin-trəst-iŋ How to pronounce interesting (audio) ˈint-ə-ˌrest-iŋ How to pronounce interesting (audio)
-ə-rəst-,
-ərst-
: holding the attention : arousing interest

More from Merriam-Webster on interesting

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