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boring
/ˈbɔːrɪŋ/
uninteresting or tedious
The lecture was so boring that half the class fell asleep.
The lecture was so uninteresting that half the class fell asleep.
informal
Not interesting or exciting; tedious or dull
The meeting was boring because the speaker just read from slides.
The meeting was dull because the speaker just read from slides.
She found the movie boring and left halfway through.
She found the movie uninteresting and left halfway through.
Often used to describe situations, events, or people that lack excitement or engagement.
Collocations
boring joba tedious or uninteresting jobboring lecturea dull or unengaging lectureboring personsomeone who is dull or uninteresting
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'boring' to describe things or situations, not people directly. For people, use 'boring person' or 'bores me'.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Using 'boring' too frequently can make your speech sound negative or unengaging. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like 'tedious' or 'dull'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'borien', meaning 'to pierce or drill', later evolving to describe something that causes weariness or lack of interest.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in informal contexts to describe things, people, or situations that lack excitement or engagement. Can also be used as a noun in informal contexts (e.g., 'That was a real boring').
Word Breakdown
bore
to make someone weary or uninterested
root-ing
present participle or adjective form
suffixEnglish Dictionary