interesting
adjective
ˈin-tə-ˌre-
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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
Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
But the most interesting data point about Super Bowl viewership was about streaming: Of those that streamed the game rather than watching on broadcast, one-third tuned in via Tubi.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
Here are just a few examples of the most interesting use cases to consider for your region:
Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
—Timothy Papandreou, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Sprinkle Them Throughout Your Decor Regardless of their fiscal value, antiques often become the most interesting object in a room, says del Balzo.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interesting
Cite this Entry
“Interesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interesting. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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interesting
adjective
ˈint-ə-ˌrest-iŋ
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