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Showing Results for "fetching"
See Also:
  • present participle of fetch.
Synonyms

fetching

American  
[fech-ing] / ˈfɛtʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. charming; captivating.


fetching British  
/ ˈfɛtʃɪŋ /

adjective

  1. attractively befitting

    a fetching hat

  2. charming

    a fetching personality

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of fetching

First recorded in 1875–80; fetch 1 + -ing 2

Explanation

To be fetching is to be attractive and beautitful. A fetching woman catches people's interest. When a dog fetches something, he grabs it, just like attractive sights take your interest. Fetching is a word for sights that capture your interest because of their beauty. Usually, this word applies to females: you're most likely to read about a lovely, fetching woman. A beautiful woman who everyone looks at is fetching: she grabs their attention. You could also say other things, like a gorgeous mountain or a well-designed building, are fetching if they grab your attention.

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Vocabulary lists containing fetching

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.

Kranti Vishwakarma, 18, spends four or five hours fetching water for her household.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

The $400 pocket watches, sold only in stores, resold for up to $6,500 on eBay, with a full set fetching $27,900.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

What’s more, the ETF has typically traded at a slight discount to the broader market, but it’s currently fetching a 17% premium to the S&P 500.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Through Stacy’s fetching sadness, we come to know that maybe a certain motivational speaker was right.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

The women in our culture are known for working incredibly hard, juggling so many things—raising the children, working on the farm, harvesting, fetching and chopping firewood, and then cooking dinner for the men.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

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