fascinating
Americanadjective
adjective
-
arousing great interest
-
enchanting or alluring
a fascinating woman
Other Word Forms
- fascinatingly adverb
- half-fascinating adjective
- half-fascinatingly adverb
- quasi-fascinating adjective
- quasi-fascinatingly adverb
- unfascinating adjective
Etymology
Origin of fascinating
First recorded in 1640–50; fascinat(e) + -ing 2
Explanation
Something fascinating really captures your interest: you can't take your eyes off it or can't wait to learn more about it. To a sports fan, a basketball game may be fascinating, including the smallest details, like who got the most assists and what kind of defense was played. Music fans find concerts fascinating. Many people think politics is fascinating — they can't get enough TV and magazine stories about the latest political events. Whatever you think is fascinating, it must really hold your attention: you always want to see and know more.
Vocabulary lists containing fascinating
12 More Interesting Ways to Say "interesting"
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Pay Attention! Synonyms for "Interesting"
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s here that I notice something fascinating: A number of the people replying to Choudhury’s posts indicate that they’re queer in their profiles.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
“Railroaded” gives a fascinating insider’s view of a vital and dangerous profession.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
On the broader economic outlook, Walsh said India would be "a fascinating economy to watch in the years ahead", expressing confidence in its growth trajectory.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
"The idea that this small compound, which people have barely heard of, plays such an important role, is fascinating."
From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026
It was tedious work, but it soon yielded fascinating conclusions.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
