boring
/ˈboɹ.ɪŋ/noun, adjective, verb
boring is spelled B-O-R-I-N-G: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 27 times per million words in written English, the 3,422nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, boring means “The act or process of boring holes; such practice as an area of expertise in manufacturing” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of boring is borings.
How many letters and syllables are in boring?
| Letters | 6: B-O-R-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 27 times per million words; the 3,422nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is boring?
Boring appears 27 times per million words in written English, the 3,422nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce boring?
- UK /ˈbɔː.ɹɪŋ/
- US /ˈboɹ.ɪŋ/
- /ˈboː.ɹɪŋ/
Boring has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-boring.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of boring
- borings plural
- more boring comparative
- boringer comparative
- most boring superlative
- boringest superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does boring mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The act or process of boring holes; such practice as an area of expertise in manufacturing.
- 2
Enlarging an existing hole with a single-point cutting tool or a boring head (usually with high precision and accuracy regarding the roundness and size of the hole).
turning and boring
- 3
Drilling.
- 4
AustraliaThe act of drilling a well into an artesian basin.
- 5
A pit or hole which has been bored.
- 6
One of the fragments thrown up when something is bored or drilled.
adjective
- 1
Causing boredom or tiredness; making one feel tired and impatient.
What a boring film that was! I almost fell asleep.
- 2
Suffering from boredom; mildly annoyed and restless through having nothing to do.
I very boring.
- 3
Used, designed to be used, or able to drill holes.
boring equipment
- 4
Capable of penetrating; piercing.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of bore
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Boring in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | alésage , ennuyeux, barbant, ennuyant |
| German | langweilig |
| Portuguese | entediante, enfadonho, chato, maçante |
| Spanish | aburrido, tedioso, soso, muermo, fome, aburridor |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does boring come from?
Inherited from Middle English boryng (“making a hole”). By surface analysis, bore + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).