intrigued
C1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Aroused to a state of intense curiosity, fascination, or interest.
A state of being captivated by something mysterious, puzzling, or complex; often implies a desire to know more about a secret or complicated matter.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Intrigued" denotes a deeper, more sustained curiosity than "interested". It often carries a connotation of mystery or intellectual puzzle. It can function primarily as an adjective (e.g., She was intrigued) or as the past tense/past participle of the verb 'intrigue'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The verb 'to intrigue' meaning 'to carry out a secret plot' (e.g., 'They intrigued against the king') is now rare but was historically more common in British contexts.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects.
Frequency
Comparably frequent and used in the same contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be + intrigued + by + [Noun Phrase][Subject] + be + intrigued + to + [Infinitive][Subject] + be + intrigued + that + [Clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be intrigued to death (hyperbolic)”
- “To have one's interest/curiosity piqued (near-synonymous concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when discussing innovative products or strategies that capture attention (e.g., 'Investors were intrigued by the startup's novel business model.').
Academic
Common in literary analysis, history, or sciences when describing a researcher's reaction to an unexplained phenomenon or complex theory.
Everyday
Used to express a strong personal interest in a story, person, or new piece of information.
Technical
Less common, but possible in contexts like game design or UX to describe user engagement with a puzzle or mystery.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The detective's cryptic note intrigued her for weeks.
- He was less intrigued by the treasure than by the map itself.
American English
- The teaser trailer really intrigued me about the movie.
- I'm intrigued to see how this new policy will play out.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) He listened intrigued as the tale unfolded.
American English
- (Rarely used) She watched intrigued from the back row.
adjective
British English
- She gave him an intrigued look over her spectacles.
- The committee remained intrigued by the unusual proposal.
American English
- He had an intrigued expression on his face throughout the lecture.
- I'm so intrigued – tell me what happens next!
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend was intrigued by the new game.
- The baby was intrigued by the shiny object.
- I was intrigued by the strange noise coming from the attic.
- They were intrigued to learn she spoke three languages.
- Archaeologists were deeply intrigued by the newly discovered symbols.
- She was intrigued by his sudden change of heart, wondering what had caused it.
- Critics were intrigued by the novel's non-linear narrative structure.
- The physicist remained intrigued by the anomaly in the data, suspecting it might lead to a breakthrough.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'INTRIGUE' as 'IN-TRIGGER-ED' – something mysterious has triggered your interest deeply from within.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTEREST IS A HOOK / CURIOSITY IS A MAGNETIC FORCE (e.g., 'She was hooked/intrigued by the tale.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with "интригован(ный)" as it is a calque and not standard Russian. Use "очарован(ный)", "заинтересован(ный)", or "заинтригован(ный)" (the latter is becoming more common but is still considered a borrowing).
- Do not confuse with 'intrigue' as a noun meaning 'secret plot' (интрига).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intriguing' and 'intrigued' interchangeably. 'Intriguing' describes the thing causing the interest; 'intrigued' describes the person feeling it.
- Incorrect: 'I am intriguing by this book.' Correct: 'I am intrigued by this intriguing book.'
- Overusing 'intrigued' for mild interest.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'intrigued' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It primarily describes a feeling or state (of curiosity). As the past tense of the verb 'intrigue', it can describe the action of arousing that curiosity ('The story intrigued him').
'Intrigued' implies a stronger, more active curiosity, often sparked by mystery, complexity, or the unusual. 'Interested' is a broader, more general term for wanting to know more.
Typically, it has a positive or neutral connotation. However, it can be used in contexts where the curiosity is about something potentially disturbing or suspicious (e.g., 'The police were intrigued by his alibi').
'By' is the most common ('intrigued by the idea'). 'To' + infinitive is also frequent ('intrigued to find out'). 'With' and 'about' are less standard.