Vocabulary · Free lesson
Bored or boring? Feeling or cause
You have nothing enjoyable to do. “I’m bored” explains your feeling. “I’m boring” says something different about you.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Bored describes the feeling: “I’m bored.” Boring describes something or someone that causes that feeling: “This game is boring.” Interested is a feeling of attention; interesting describes what attracts that attention.
Ask who feels it and what causes it.
A bored person feels a lack of interest. A boring person makes other people feel that way. Both words can describe a person, so “people take -ed, things take -ing” is not a safe rule. The same meaning contrast appears in interested and interesting: you can be interested in an interesting topic.
Compare the examples
I’m bored because there’s nothing to do.
The game is boring because every round is the same.
I’m interested in the new game.
The new game looks interesting.
I was bored and I am bored use the same adjective. The tense comes from was or am. The -ed ending here does not by itself mean past time.
Build the meaning step by step
Name the experience
I feel bored. / I feel interested.
Name the cause or quality
a boring game / an interesting topic
Try it now
Choose the intended meaning
Read all answers and explanations
Nothing holds your attention: “I’m ___.”
boredBored describes your feeling. Boring would describe the effect you have on others; bore is not the adjective needed here.
The repeated game makes players lose interest: “The game is ___.”
boringBoring describes what causes the feeling. The game is not experiencing boredom in this situation.
You want to learn more: “I’m ___ in this topic.”
interestedInterested in describes your attention toward the topic. Interesting describes something that attracts attention.
Put it into practice
Fix a message about a game
You feel bored while waiting, but the new game attracts your interest. Choose the message that keeps both meanings.
I’m boring while I wait. The new game looks interested.
See a model answer
I’m bored while I wait. The new game looks interesting.
Both subjects need adjectives, but they describe different roles in the experience.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can a person be boring?
Yes. It means the person causes boredom, not that they feel bored. Choose carefully because it can be a negative judgment.
His stories are interesting, but he looks bored today.
Does bored always describe the past?
No. It can describe a current or past feeling. The surrounding verb shows the tense.
I’m bored now, but I wasn’t bored yesterday.
Take it into your day
Bored is the experience; boring is the effect on someone.
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