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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The interesting thing is that, according to thermodynamics, the chemical conversion of basalt minerals to calcium oxide only requires around half as much as the conversion from limestone.
—Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Her eye is always on the lookout for interesting shapes, fun furniture, or abstract art.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
There are these natural mineral hot springs that actually have a really interesting history.
—AFAR Media, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for interesting
Cite this Entry
“Interesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interesting. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interesting
adjective
ˈint-ə-ˌrest-iŋ
