interesting

From interest +‎ -ing.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɪntɹəstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɛstɪŋ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɪntəɹəstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɛstɪŋ/, /ˈɪntɹɪstɪŋ/, /ˈɪn(t)əɹɛstɪŋ/, /ˈɪnt͡ʃɹɛstɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (US):

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• Hyphenation: in‧ter‧est‧ing

interesting (comparative more interesting, superlative most interesting)

1. (obsolete) Of concern; affecting, important.
   • 1791, James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck, edited by Robert William Chapman, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford University Press, published 2008, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 48:

     He indeed had good reason to be offended; for though Dr. Swinfen's motive was good, he inconsiderately betrayed a matter deeply interesting and of great delicacy, which had been entrusted to him in conference […] .

2. Arousing or holding the attention or interest of someone.

   Cricket is not interesting to watch.

   • 2015-11-22, Stan Lee, "Marvel's Stan Lee: 'I'd never really thought of doing comics for a living.'", The Guardian:

     Comics were just another form of entertainment to me, but it got to be more and more interesting every day.

3. (euphemistic) Pregnant. (used with situation and condition) [from 18th c.]
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

     I found myself in a fair way of being a mother; and that I might be near my own relations, in such an interesting situation, I and my dear companion departed from H—n, not without great reluctance […] .

   • 1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC:

     Mrs Lenville (who, as has been before hinted, was in an interesting state) rushed from the rear rank of ladies, and uttering a piercing scream threw herself upon the body.

   • 1928, William Babington Maxwell, “Part II. Enid”, in We Forget Because We Must, A Story of Decades and Lustres‎^[1], 1st edition, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran and Co., published 1928, →OCLC, page 45:

     I’m afraid I seem to make heavy weather of my interesting condition.

• absorbing, gripping,

• uninteresting
• boring

interesting

1. present participle and gerund of interest