interestingly

IPA/ˈɪntrəstɪŋli/
KK[ˈɪntɚˌɛstɪŋli]IPA/ˈɪntrəstɪŋli/

interestingly — adverb

1. used before telling someone something that you think is surprising or unusual, s

1.adverbB2
Definition

used before telling someone something that you think is surprising or unusual, so that they pay extra attention to it

Example

Interestingly, the temperature in Taipei dropped fifteen degrees in just one hour.

sentence adverb at start of clause

Interestingly, Joon had reached the same conclusion before the official report was published.

Common collocations
  • interestingly enough
Synonyms
  • remarkably

    places stronger emphasis on how unusual or striking the fact is

  • curiously

    suggests the information is puzzling or odd, not just surprising

  • notably

    more neutral and factual; highlights significance rather than surprise

  • strangely

    implies the information is unexpected in a slightly weird or hard-to-explain way

Antonyms
  • predictably

    introduces information that follows expectations, the opposite of surprising

  • unsurprisingly

    signals that the information fits what one would normally expect

Grammar Patterns

interestingly + comma + [clause]

Usage Note

This sense always modifies the whole sentence, not a single verb. It typically appears at the beginning of a clause, separated by a comma. The variant 'interestingly enough' adds a slightly more conversational tone. A that-clause of surprise or contrast often follows.

Common Mistakes

Interestingly, he is tall.
Interestingly, he is tall even though both of his parents are quite short.
The adverb needs a reason for the listener to find the information surprising; stating an ordinary fact without contrast feels incomplete.

2. done or presented so that people find it unusual, special, or exciting and want

2.adverbB1
Definition

done or presented so that people find it unusual, special, or exciting and want to pay attention

Example

The documentary presented the war story interestingly, using animated letters from real soldiers.

manner adverb modifying verb phrase

Ada's dress was interestingly designed, with a fabric that shifted colour under different lights.

interestingly + past participle (designed)

Synonyms
  • intriguingly

    stronger emphasis on arousing curiosity or mystery

  • engagingly

    focuses on holding the audience's attention in a pleasant way

  • captivatingly

    suggests a stronger, almost irresistible draw on attention

Antonyms
  • boringly

    in a way that fails to attract or hold attention

  • dully

    in a plain, unexciting manner

Grammar Patterns

[verb phrase] + interestingly

interestingly + [past participle]

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense modifies a specific verb or adjective rather than the whole sentence. It often appears after the verb ('presented the story interestingly') or before a past participle ('interestingly designed'). The adverb signals that the manner or method itself has a quality that arouses interest.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words introduce surprising information, but they differ in tone and implication. 'Interestingly' is the most neutral — it simply flags something worth attention without judging how odd or significant it is. 'Remarkably' carries stronger surprise and admiration ('Remarkably, she finished the race despite a broken ankle'). 'Curiously' leans into puzzlement, suggesting something that is hard to explain ('Curiously, the door was unlocked even though the owner was away'). 'Notably' highlights importance rather than surprise, often used in factual or academic contexts ('Notably, the study found no link between the two factors'). 'Strangely' has a slightly negative or unsettling tone, implying that something feels off ('Strangely, the birds stopped singing just before the storm'). Choose 'interestingly' for general conversational use; choose 'notably' in formal or data-driven writing.

remarkably ↗curiously ↗notably ↗strangely ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • interestingly enough

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'interesting', which itself comes from the verb 'interest'. The verb entered English from Anglo-French 'interest' (legal claim or concern), which traces back to Latin 'interest' — literally meaning 'it makes a difference' or 'it matters'. The discourse-marker use (sense 1, introducing surprising information) became common in written English from the mid-20th century onward.