challenging

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪn.d͡ʒɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Freq #7177

Meanings

1

adj
Difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability.

The exam was challenging but fair.
2

adj
Making you think; stimulating.

The book offers a challenging new idea about history.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · difficult in an interesting... ambitious

2 adj · making you think; stimulating. thought-provoking intriguing

Opposites

unchallenging

Common collocations

challenging task Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English chalengynge; equivalent to challenge + -ing.

chalengynge Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# challenging

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪn.d͡ʒɪŋ/
**Frequency rank:** 7177

## Meanings
1. Difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability.
2. Making you think; stimulating.

## Examples
- The exam was challenging but fair.
- The book offers a challenging new idea about history.

## Antonyms
- unchallenging

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: chalengynge

## Etymology
From Middle English chalengynge; equivalent to challenge + -ing.

## AI Etymology
Challenging is from Middle English chalengynge; equivalent to challenge plus -ing. The -ing ending gives the form participial or gerundial force, naming an action, process, or quality associated with challenge. In use as an adjective, challenging denotes difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability and making you think; stimulating. Typical contexts include “The exam was challenging but fair” and “The book offers a challenging new idea about history”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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