boring

¹

[ bawr-ing ]

adjective

1. causing or marked by boredom; dull and uninteresting; tiresome: to have a boring time.

   a boring discussion;

   to have a boring time.

   Synonyms: tedious, tiresome, dull

boring

²

[ bawr-ing, bohr- ]

noun

1. Machinery.
   1. the act or process of making or enlarging a hole.
   2. the hole so made.
2. Geology. a cylindrical sample of earth strata obtained by boring a vertical hole.
3. borings, the chips, fragments, or dust produced in boring.

boring

¹

/ ˈbɔːrɪŋ /

adjective

1. dull; repetitious; uninteresting

boring

²

/ ˈbɔːrɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the act or process of making or enlarging a hole
   2. the hole made in this way
2. often plural a fragment, particle, chip, etc, produced during boring

Derived Forms

• ˈboringly, adverb

Other Words From

• bor·ing·ly adverb
• bor·ing·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of boring¹

First recorded in 1835–45; bore ¹ + -ing ²

Origin of boring²

First recorded in 1400–50; bore ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Can a dramatic tale of political comeback also be boring and disappointing?

From Salon

I refuse to discredit an immediate connection with someone as inherently dangerous and resign myself to passionless dating and relationships because “boring” is good and safe.

From Los Angeles Times

Hidden traps pose the most danger, and they’re everywhere, masquerading as boring, casual conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

You could accept the boring truth that change is inevitable and also that you, like all people, are slowly dying.

From Salon

People always say, “Oh, it gets boring saying the same thing over and over again.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• dull
• humdrum
• lifeless
• monotonous
• mundane
• stale
• stodgy
• stuffy
• stupid
• tame
• tedious
• tiresome
• tiring
• trite
• uninteresting