Words / B1

FAS-in-ayt-ing/ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/

Fascinating means extremely interesting: a fascinating talk; find something fascinating. Interesting is weaker; gripping is closer for stories. Fascinate is the verb. Do not call a bus timetable fascinating in a serious essay unless you are being ironic. Exam speaking: say why it is fascinating, not only that it is.

Meaning

Extremely interesting.

Examples

• “The documentary on coastal flooding was fascinating, if grim.”
• “She finds phonetics fascinating, which is why she chose the linguistics module.”

Good to know

a fascinating + noun; find something fascinating. Weaker: interesting. Verb: fascinate. Give a reason in speaking tests.

Near in meaning

gripping

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