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interest

interest

∞ 1.0
A feeling of wanting to know more about something
  • noun
  • /ˈɪntrəst/
: interés
  • They're following it with enormous interest and intensity.
  • show interest
  • lose interest
  • interest in science

And, you know, I'm starting to see interest in these questions.

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Examples

  • So this might be of interest to you also.

  • I want to keep their interest, keep them reading.

  • Well, it kept my interest, you know, great.

  • You have this deep interest in design.

  • Soon he was making his way around the valley taking a great interest in everything.

  • Students' interest in your music class may stem from an interest in a particular style of music.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Consultants and teachers reported an interest in and understanding of the training content.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Moments such as this seemed to fuel the social workers' interest in dementia care.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I believe we share a common interest, Mr Newton: photography.

  • Can you show a little interest in your children's education by attending their school events?

Synonyms

curiosity
vsinterest
318 2.2

A strong wish to learn or know things

is broader, also covering simple enjoyment, not only the urge to learn
enthusiasm
vsinterest
288 2.2

A strong feeling of excitement and interest in something

is narrower, focusing on wanting to know or finding something engaging
fascination
vsinterest
105 3.4

A very strong interest that makes you pay close attention

can be milder, simply making someone want to know more or enjoy it
pastime
vsinterest
59 2.0

A thing you do regularly for fun in your free time

is the internal feeling that can make that activity enjoyable or chosen
desire to know
vsinterest
4 3.5

A strong wish to learn new things about the world

is the more general feeling that can cause that motivating urge
3 3.5

A strong wish to learn and understand new things

is more general, also including mild curiosity and simple enjoyment
inquisitiveness
vsinterest
1 5.1

A strong desire to learn new things

is the feeling that can be a trait or just a passing state
keenness
vsinterest
1 3.6

A strong wish to do something

is the general wish to know or enjoy, not always intense
avidity
vsinterest
1 8.0

A very strong wish to have or do something

is softer, often meaning wanting to know or enjoy rather than craving
1 3.8

A strong, lasting wish to learn new things

is broader and can mean simple enjoyment or light wanting to learn
interestedness
vsinterest
7.6

A feeling of wanting to know more about something

is the inner feeling that makes someone want to know or enjoy things
curiousness
vsinterest
3.4

A strong want to know or learn about things

has the same wanting quality but also means finding something enjoyable
spark of interest
vsinterest
3.5

A small first feeling that makes you want to know more

is the continuing feeling that follows beyond a single initial moment
lust for learning
vsinterest
4.1

A strong wish to learn new things

is less extreme, covering normal wanting to know or enjoying things

Antonyms

85 1.3

A feeling of being tired and restless when you have nothing to do

5 5.8

Not feeling interested in something, like a talk or task

Idioms

To do something to help someone or something

Compounds

interest rate
  • Specialized
415 2.3

The extra money you pay when you borrow or receive when you save each year

83 1.9

A situation when someone has two interests that could affect their decisions

A group or organization that tries to influence government decisions to help its own members

A group of people with the same goal who try to influence public decisions

49 4.0

Wanting what is best for you and not caring about others

low-interest
  • Specialized
33 3.4

A loan or card that charges only a small extra amount for borrowing money

A person or group that benefits from the current situation and tries to keep it

A group of people who try to influence government decisions about one issue

12 4.2

Making you pay a lot of interest on borrowed money

8 6.7

A legal right on property that helps a lender get paid

controlling interest
  • Specialized
7 3.5

Having more than half the voting shares of a company gives control over its decisions

Percent a bank charges for borrowing money each year

compound interest
  • Specialized
4 3.1

Extra money added to your savings and then paid again on that amount

A group that tries to influence government decisions often by talking to politicians

interest expense
  • Specialized
3 3.9

Money a company pays for borrowing money recorded as a cost in its accounts

1 5.2

A legal right someone already has that cannot be taken away and can be moved to another person

1 6.5

A feeling of wanting a team, person, or cause to win because you care about them

Likely to attract a lot of attention from many people

prime interest rate
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The lowest interest rate banks charge to their best business customers

1 3.5

A small group inside an organization that works on a specific topic or project, not for politics

1 7.1

A legal right to get money if a person dies or property is damaged because you would lose money

simple interest
  • Specialized
1 3.4

Extra money added only to the original amount, not to any earlier added money

7.5

A way of joining two companies' financial records by adding what they own and what they owe, often avoiding tax

9.9

A temporary right to property that ends on a set event, for example death or remarriage

A large amount of attention and worry from many people about an event or issue

A hobby or small job you do beside your main job

A small first feeling that makes you want to know more

7.0

A share giving each owner equal rights to the whole property

How Interesting

fascination
105 3.4
interest
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

interest singular
interests plural

Etymology

Interest (the feeling) comes from Latin inter- ('between') and esse ('to be'), originally meaning 'it matters'. So your interest is simply what 'matters' to you or what makes you want to know more.