- present participle of fascinate.
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.
"It will be a fascinating game on Tuesday," French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport's Euro Leagues podcast.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Regardless, Mr. Steinmetz’s depiction of Mellon’s relationship with each of the four presidents is fascinating and worthy of study.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
“It’s fascinating, the confluence of Silicon Valley and the Pentagon — fascinating and terrifying,” Robert said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s a fascinating and notable contrast to broader sentiment in the public markets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
So seeing all the storefronts, automobiles, and people in this part of the city was new and fascinating.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
