# tempting

/ˈtɛmptɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈɛmptɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tempting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. attractive or appealing

adjective · CEFR B1

something that looks or sounds so good that you really want it.

For teachers: appealing or enticing in a way that creates a strong desire to possess or experience something.

- The chocolate cake in the window looked very tempting after a long day.
- The job offer was incredibly tempting, featuring a significant salary increase and the opportunity to lead a global team from the London office.

### 2. trying to persuade

verb · CEFR B2

the action of trying to make someone do something, often something wrong.

For teachers: the present participle of 'tempt', describing the act of enticing or inciting someone to do something unwise or immoral.

- He was tempting his friend to skip class and go to the beach instead.
- By offering such a high commission, the company was essentially tempting its agents to overlook the ethical implications of the deal.

### 3. the act of temptation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of making someone feel they want to do something they should not.

For teachers: the gerund form representing the act of subjecting an individual to temptation or enticement.

- The tempting of the young prince with power led to a great war.
- The narrative focuses on the constant tempting of the protagonist, illustrating his gradual descent into corruption as he prioritises personal gain over his principles.

## Examples

- That chocolate cake looks very tempting.
- The job offer is very tempting because it includes a much higher salary and better benefits.
- Despite her commitment to the project, the prospect of a month-long sabbatical in Italy proved too tempting to refuse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.