fascinating

USAGE SUMMARY

"fascinating" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is interesting or intriguing and is worthy of admiration or interest. Example: "I found the lecture on ancient history fascinating!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was fascinating.

The New York Times

The academic Alison Wolf has done some fascinating research showing that countries with very good prospects for professional women also have extremely high - 90%-plus - proportions of women doing the very low-paid care work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Her commitment to fair wages and the barriers she will chip away to achieve them are fascinating to hear.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Then it was fascinating that the Conservatives stole 'stronger economy'," Brinton suggested.

The Guardian

Hearing him explain his choices in his own words, in his own voice, was heartbreaking and fascinating.

The Guardian

—DJMC A Wrinkle In Time (series) by Madeleine L'Engle – I loved these books when I was younger, they were well-developed, unique, quasi-science based concepts that I found fascinating.

The Guardian - Books

A superb work of literary Modernism and as tough and fascinating a work on addiction as anything by Burroughs or Buckowski.

The Guardian - Books

Today we launch Guardian Australia, the Guardian's third international digital edition, focusing our unique style of journalism on this vast and fascinating country.

The Guardian

They were watching because I am an intrinsically fascinating person with many attractive qualities, and I am beloved.

The Guardian

A walking tour of the Maadi's historic homes and gardens gives a fascinating insight into Cairo's more recent history.

The Guardian - Travel

This fascinating piece of data journalism from my colleagues on the Guardian Datablog, The public sector employment map of Britain.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fascinating" to describe subjects or ideas that evoke a high degree of interest and curiosity, particularly when they offer novel insights or perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "fascinating" to describe commonplace or mundane topics, as it can diminish the word's impact. Reserve it for truly captivating subjects to maintain its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fascinating" is as an adjective, modifying a noun to describe it as highly interesting or captivating. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment and is observed across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Books

10%

Film

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "fascinating" functions as an adjective used to describe something highly interesting or captivating. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its communicative purpose is to express admiration or captivation. With a neutral register, "fascinating" appears most frequently in News & Media sources, followed by books and film. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "captivating" or "intriguing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

captivating

Emphasizes the ability to attract and hold someone's attention.

intriguing

Suggests a mysterious or puzzling quality that sparks curiosity.

enthralling

Implies a strong and magical power to hold someone's attention completely.

riveting

Describes something that is so absorbing it holds your attention as if physically fixed.

spellbinding

Suggests a magical or hypnotic quality that fascinates.

absorbing

Focuses on the capacity to completely occupy one's attention or interest.

engrossing

Indicates something that completely occupies your mind or attention.

engaging

Highlights the ability to draw someone in and maintain their interest.

alluring

Suggests a tempting or attractive quality that draws someone in.

compelling

Emphasizes the power to evoke interest, attention, or admiration in an irresistible way.

FAQs

How can I use "fascinating" in a sentence?

You can use "fascinating" to describe something that evokes great interest or captivation, such as "The professor gave a fascinating lecture on quantum physics".

What can I say instead of "fascinating"?

You can use alternatives like "captivating", "intriguing", or "enthralling" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "fascinating" in formal writing?

Yes, "fascinating" is appropriate for formal writing as it is a well-recognized and widely understood adjective. However, ensure it aligns with the tone and register of the specific context.

What makes something "fascinating" rather than just interesting?

"Fascinating" often implies a deeper level of intrigue and captivation than "interesting". Something that is "fascinating" typically has a unique, unusual, or profound quality that holds your attention and sparks curiosity in a more compelling way.