interest
Pluralinterests (some meanings)
Verbinterests, interesting, interested
Pluralinterests (some meanings)
Formsinterests, interesting, interested
- 1The feeling of wanting to know more about something, or the attention people give it.
Like a magnet that keeps pulling your mind back to something.
She showed a real interest in how the engine worked.
His interest in dinosaurs began when he was very young.
Similarcuriosity, fascination, attention
Oppositeindifference, boredom, apathy
Note
- 2
- 3The quality of being important or worth caring about.
Like a sign that tells people something matters.
The news was of great interest to the whole town.
This is a topic of real interest to scientists.
Similarimportance, significance, relevance, concern, consequence
Oppositeirrelevance, insignificance, unimportance
- 4
- 5Extra money you pay back when you borrow, or earn when you save.
Like a small fee you pay for using someone else's money for a while.
The loan charges five percent interest each year.
She paid a lot of interest on her credit card.
Note
- 6A share or part that you own in a business, project, or property.
Like owning one slice of a cake that many people share.
She has an interest in the family company.
He sold his interest in the restaurant last year.
Similarstake, share, holding, claim, investment
Note
- 7
- 8
Less common meanings
- 9Extra given back beyond what was first owed or expected.
Like returning a borrowed cup of sugar with an extra spoonful on top.
She returned the favor with interest.
When they teased him, he teased them back with interest.
Note
- 10To affect or have something to do with a person or matter.
Oh, rather, gracious sir, / Create me to this glory; since my cause / Doth interest this fair quarrel; valued least, / I am his equal.
1840, Philip Massinger, FordHere, interest means to affect or have to do with something.Note
- 11To give someone a share or part in something.
The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands.
1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical PolitieHere, interested means given a share or part in something.Note
- 12Harm done to someone, or money paid to make up for that harm.
How can this infinite beauty, power and goodnes admit any correspondencie or similitude with a thing so base and abject as we are, without extreme interest and manifest derogation from his divine greatnesse?
1603, Michel de Montaigne, The EssayesHere, interest means harm or damage done to someone.Note
- 13A kind of short, fun fact film, made more to amuse than to teach.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin "interesse," which came into English through Old French.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- English interest ultimately derives from Latin interesse. en.wiktionary.org
- The word entered English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org