fascinating

[ fas-uh-ney-ting ]

adjective

1. of great interest or attraction; enchanting; charming; captivating:

   a fascinating story;

   fascinating jewelry.

fascinating

/ ˈfæsɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. arousing great interest
2. enchanting or alluring

   a fascinating woman

Derived Forms

• ˈfasciˌnatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• fasci·nating·ly adverb
• half-fasci·nating adjective
• half-fasci·nating·ly adverb
• quasi-fasci·nating adjective
• quasi-fasci·nating·ly adverb
• un·fasci·nating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinating¹

First recorded in 1640–50; fascinat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

With no dialogue, the narrative is minimalist and focused on survival, though there are fascinating connections between the monstrous world and the characters within it.

From Washington Post

Two recent offerings transport readers into fascinating settings — and the first, in particular, features appealing characters, who are the true draw of any well-told tale.

From Washington Post

That will be a fascinating area of inquiry at next week’s hearings.

From Fortune

He’s so fascinating that Steve Levitt brought him back for a second conversation.

From Freakonomics

To me, that’s where you get to people’s relationships playing out in a really fascinating way.

From Vox

One example would be how fascinating it must be to be Martin Scorsese and have an Oscar at home for The Departed.

From The Daily Beast

Lawler is more interested in the more fascinating story of how the chicken spread.

From The Daily Beast

But the history of the church, which emerged in the late '60s, is far more complicated—and fascinating.

From The Daily Beast

Something fascinating is going on in the gravitational dance of galaxies, from watching the slow twirls of the dancers.

From The Daily Beast

He was immediately sold on the quality of the screenplays and the fascinating story.

From The Daily Beast

Still, gambling seemed to be made particularly fascinating here, and he wanted to be fascinated, wanted it badly.

From Project Gutenberg

Jean clung to his English nurse, who played the fascinating game of pretending to eat his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

This other by what seems a congenial activity, fascinating as a game of chess, acquires uncounted millions.

From Project Gutenberg

There are any number of these latter in Hamburg, and you have no idea how fascinating many of them are—so handsome and so bright.

From Project Gutenberg

The fond parent made the sprightly and fascinating child his daily companion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alluring
• appealing
• captivating
• charming
• compelling
• delightful
• enchanting
• engaging
• engrossing
• glamorous
• gripping
• intriguing
• riveting