Skip to main content
interest

interest

1.0
A feeling of wanting to know more about something
  • noun
  • /ˈɪntrəst/
translation icon : 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.

Autoplay Next

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.