English Reference

Word

boring

Phoneticsbor·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈbɔɹɪŋ/

UK/bˈɔːɹɪŋ/

Definitions

01not interesting

A1 · Beginner

adj. not interesting or exciting; making you feel tired and impatient.

adj. causing boredom or lack of interest; tedious and uninspiring.

“The movie was so boring that I fell asleep before the end.”

“The lecture was incredibly boring, consisting of nothing but the professor reading aloud from a textbook for two hours.”

Pitfall

I am very boring in this class.

I am very bored in this class.

Use 'boring' for the thing that causes the feeling, and 'bored' for how you feel.

Synonyms

dulltediousuninteresting

Antonyms

excitinginterestingfascinating

02drilling holes

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technology Technical

n. the act of making a deep, round hole in the ground or in a hard material.

n. the process or industrial practice of drilling or enlarging a hole in a solid material.

“The workers started the boring for the new well this morning.”

“Precision boring is required to ensure the engine cylinders are perfectly aligned and smooth.”

Usage

Often used in manufacturing or civil engineering contexts.

Synonyms

drillingpiercing

Confusables

boring vs bored

Bored is the feeling inside a person; boring is the quality of the thing that causes that feeling.

RememberBored = The Person. Boring = The Problem.

Grammar

-ed/-ing adjectives

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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