fascinating
Americanadjective
adjective
-
arousing great interest
-
enchanting or alluring
a fascinating woman
Other Word Forms
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.
Once Margo tells Mark she’s pregnant and wants to keep her baby, he finds her a lot less fascinating.
From Salon • May 4, 2026
Geddes, who is a a designer by trade, said the variety of typography and design was fascinating.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
“The truth is that these big ships are fascinating for a lot of people,” Cazor said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
That’s according to a fascinating study of how investors’ behavior changes when they stop thinking short-term and see investments with a time horizon of more than 12 months.
From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026
I don’t want to seem nosy, but the curving design on the front of the mezuzah is fascinating.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
