interest

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɪntrɛst/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɪntərəst/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: in‧ter‧est

Noun

Singular interest

Plural interests

1. (countable) When someone wants to know more about someone or something or likes someone or something or likes to do something, it can be said that the person has an interest in them.

   She has a strong interest in art. She is going to go to an art school.

   What are your interests?

2. (countable) When someone or something is important to a person, or if good things happening to the thing are good for the person, we say that the person has an interest in them.

   Because I own a house on this street, I have an interest in keeping the street clean.

   I'm doing this to look after my own interests.

3. (uncountable) When someone borrows money, they have to give back more money than they borrowed. The extra money they have to pay is called interest.

   The bank gives me two percent interest per year on the money in my account.

Verb

Plain form interest

Third-person singular interests

Past tense interested

Past participle interested

Present participle interesting

1. If someone is interested, they are curious and want to find out about someone or something.
   • Synonyms: curious and eager
   • Antonyms: boredom and disinterest

   I am interested in researching flowers.

   Does maths interest you?

Related words

• interesting
• interested