Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense interests, present participle interesting, past tense, past participle interested
1. variable noun
If you have an interestin something, you want to learn or hear more about it.
There has been a lively interest in the elections in the last two weeks. [+ in]
His parents tried to discourage his interest in music, but he persisted. [+ in]
She'd liked him at first, but soon lost interest.
Food was of no interest to her at all. [+ to]
Synonyms: importance, concern, significance, moment More Synonyms of interest
2. countable noun
Your interests are the things that you enjoy doing.
Encourage your child in her interests and hobbies.
He developed a wide range of sporting interests as a pupil at Millfield.
Synonyms: hobby, activity, pursuit, entertainment More Synonyms of interest
3. verb
If something interests you, it attracts your attention so that you want to learn or hear more about it or continue doing it.
Animation had always interested me. [VERB noun]
It may interest you to know that the housekeeper witnessed the attack. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
4. verb
If you are trying to persuade someone to buy or do something, you can say that you are trying to interest them in it.
In the meantime I can't interest you in a new car, I suppose? [VERB noun + in]
Synonyms: sell, persuade to buy More Synonyms of interest
5. countable noun [usually plural]
If something is in the interests of a particular person or group, it will benefit them in some way.
Did those directors act in the best interests of their club? [+ of]
The social worker would try to get her to see she was acting against the boy's interests.
Synonyms: advantage, good, benefit, profit More Synonyms of interest
6. countable noun [usually plural]
You can use interests to refer to groups of people who you think use their power or money to benefit themselves.
The government accused unnamed 'foreign interests' of inciting the trouble.
He resigned as finance minister weeks before the election and stood against big-businessinterests.
7. countable noun
A person or organization that has interests in a company or in a particular type of business owns shares in this company or this type of business.
[business]
Her other business interests include a theme park in Scandinavia and hotels in theWest Country.
...the Hatch family, who controlled large dairy interests.
Disney will retain a 51 percent controlling interest in the venture. [+ in]
8. countable noun
If a person, country, or organization has an interestin a possible event or situation, they want that event or situation to happen because they are likely to benefit from it.
The West has an interest in promoting democratic forces in Eastern Europe. [+ in]
Many people have an interest in not remembering what happened that night.
Synonyms: stake, investment More Synonyms of interest
9. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
Interest is extra money that you receive if you have invested a sum of money. Interest is also the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money or are buying something on credit.
Does your current account pay interest?
This is an important step toward lower interest rates.
Synonyms: returns, profits, dividends More Synonyms of interest
10. See also compound interest, interested, interesting, self-interest, vested interest
11.
See in the interests of/in the interest of
12. to have someone's interests at heart
More Synonyms of interest
interest in British English
(ˈɪntrɪst, -tərɪst)
noun
1.
the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someone
an interest in butterflies
2.
the power of stimulating such a sense
to have great interest
3.
the quality of such stimulation
4.
something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit
5. (often plural)
benefit; advantage
in one's own interest
6. (often plural)
a.
a right, share, or claim, esp in a business or property
b.
the business, property, etc, in which a person has such concern
7.
a.
a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money
b.
such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used
8. (often plural)
a section of a community, etc, whose members have common aims
we must not offend the landed interest
9. declare an interest
verb(transitive)
10.
to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of
11.
to cause to become involved in something; concern
Word origin
C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be
interest in American English
(ˈɪntrɪst; ˈɪntrəst; ˈɪntərɪst; also, esp. for v., ˈɪntərˌɛst; ˈɪnˌtrɛst)
noun
1.
a right or claim to something
2.
a.
a share or participation in something
b.
something, as a business, in which one participates or has a share
c.
a personal connection or involvement which might be thought to compromise one's impartiality in carrying out one's official duties
3. [often pl.]
advantage; welfare; benefit
4. [usually pl.]
a group of people having a common concern or dominant power in some industry, occupation, cause, etc.
the steel interests
5.
personal influence
6.
a.
a feeling of intentness, concern, or curiosity about something
an interest in politics
b.
the power of causing this feeling
books of interest to children
c.
something causing this feeling
the academic interests of a scholar
7.
importance; consequence
a matter of little interest
8.
a.
money paid for the use of money
b.
the rate of such payment, expressed as a percentage per unit of time
9.
an increase over what is owed
to repay kindness with interest
verb transitive
10.
to involve the interest, or concern, of; have an effect upon
11.
to cause to have an interest or take part in
can I interest you in a game of golf?
12.
to excite the attention or curiosity of
Idioms:
in the interest of
Word origin
ME interesse < ML usury, compensation (in L, to be between, be different, interest < inter-, between + esse, to be: see is1): altered, infl. by OFr interest < L, it interests, concerns, 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of interesse
interest in Finance
(ɪntrɪst)
noun
(Finance: General)
Interest is the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money, or the extra money thatyou receive if you have money in some types of bank account.
The home buyer puts up the other half of the closing costs and fee, and then paysinterest at 12 percent a year to the investor.
Investors want to lend because lenders would typically receive the 10-15 percentinterest on the loan.
Interest is the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money, or the extra money thatyou receive if you have money in some types of bank account.
Interest is the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money, or the extra money thatyou receive if you have money in some types of bank account.
The home buyer puts up the other half of the closing costs and fee, and then paysinterest at 12 percent a year to the investor.
Investors want to lend because lenders would typically receive the 10-15 percentinterest on the loan.
Interest is the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money, or the extra money thatyou receive if you have money in some types of bank account.
compound interest, interest rate
Examples of 'interest' in a sentence
interest
To write stories of profound public interest about abuse of power in public office.
The Sun (2016)
We have been clear there is interest in the business and that remains the case.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He receives monthly interest payments on the loan.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There may be no interest to pay on this debt during the set period.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just not enough interesting ones to justify its length.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Interest is charged on purchases made with these cards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then spread the payments back to the credit card, without any extra interest.
The Sun (2016)
There has been anxiety that the board could have an incentive to make acquisitions that are not in the company 's interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Others suggested that he had no interest in money.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We discovered we had loads in common but were different enough to be interesting to one another.
The Sun (2015)
So it made a nice change to be able to tweet something interesting.
The Sun (2016)
The most interesting conversation concerns the back row.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Watch out for accounts that do not pay you interest if you make a withdrawal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We also had significant interest from elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Before charge the public interest argument is much weaker.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why this increased interest in film music?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These schools are big businesses with interests to protect.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These changes hit the wrong target and may in fact damage the interests of target company shareholders.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We also draw attention to some interesting aspects of the behavior of firms issuing these securities.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The fact that grandad is wearing a nappy no longer excites any interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The question is not a very important or interesting one.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
The answer was to tune their surfing to their particular interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The coupon is like the interest you receive from a cash savings account.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You have to show a renewed interest in the person.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You can carry on doing interesting things and learning new skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The two men forged a bond over their shared interest in property.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their first interest is whether you are single and available.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Martha was waiting for her and the trouble in her face had been temporarily replaced by interest and curiosity.
Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden (1911)
Until you have a clear idea of your future plans put any lump sum redundancy into a high interest instant access account.
Tondeur, Keith Say Goodbye to Debt (1994)
I have managed to get my daughter to talk about her interests.
The Sun (2011)
She finds it interesting to hear what I have to say.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
interest
British English: interest /ˈɪntrɪst; -tərɪst/ NOUN
curiosity If you have an interest in something, you want to learn or hear more about it.
There has been a lot of interest in the elections in the last two weeks.
American English: interest curiosity
Arabic: إِهْتِمَامٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: interesse
Chinese: 兴趣
Croatian: zanimanje
Czech: zájem
Danish: interesse
Dutch: interesse
European Spanish: interés importancia
Finnish: kiinnostus
French: intérêt
German: Interesse
Greek: ενδιαφέρον
Italian: interesse
Japanese: 興味 curiosity
Korean: 관심
Norwegian: interesse
Polish: zainteresowanie
European Portuguese: interesse
Romanian: interes
Russian: интерес
Latin American Spanish: interés
Swedish: intresse
Thai: ความสนใจ
Turkish: ilgi merak
Ukrainian: інтерес
Vietnamese: sự quan tâm
British English: interest /ˈɪntrɪst; -tərɪst/ NOUN
moneyInterest is extra money that you receive if you have invested a sum of money.
Does your current account pay interest?
American English: interest income
Arabic: رِبْحٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: juros
Chinese: 利息
Croatian: kamate
Czech: úrok
Danish: rente
Dutch: rente
European Spanish: interés actitud
Finnish: korko rahallinen
French: intérêts
German: Zinsen
Greek: τόκος
Italian: interesse
Japanese: 利息 income
Korean: 이익
Norwegian: rente
Polish: oprocentowanie
European Portuguese: juros
Romanian: dobândă
Russian: доход доход по вкладу
Latin American Spanish: interés
Swedish: ränta
Thai: ดอกเบี้ย
Turkish: faiz
Ukrainian: відсоток
Vietnamese: tiền lãi
British English: interest /ˈɪntrɪst; -tərɪst/ VERB
If something interests you, you want to learn more about it or to continue doing it.
These are the stories that interest me.
American English: interest
Arabic: يُثِيرُ إِهْتِمَامُ
Brazilian Portuguese: interessar
Chinese: 引发兴趣
Croatian: zanimati
Czech: zajímat
Danish: interessere
Dutch: interesseren
European Spanish: interesar
Finnish: kiinnostaa
French: intéresser
German: interessieren
Greek: ενδιαφέρω
Italian: interessare
Japanese: 興味を起こさせる
Korean: 흥미를 갖게 하다
Norwegian: interessere
Polish: zainteresować
European Portuguese: interessar
Romanian: a interesa
Russian: интересовать
Latin American Spanish: interesar
Swedish: intressera
Thai: ทำให้สนใจ
Turkish: ilgilenmek
Ukrainian: цікавити
Vietnamese: gây sự chú ý
All related terms of 'interest'
high-interest
(of a loan , mortgage , etc) to be repaid at a high rate of interest
interest-free
An interest-free loan has no interest charged on it.
interest rate
The interest rate is the amount of interest that must be paid . It is expressed as a percentage of the amount that is borrowed or gained as profit .
life interest
interest (esp from property) that is payable to a person during their life but ceases with their death
self-interest
If you accuse someone of self-interest , you disapprove of them because they always want to do what is best for themselves rather than for anyone else.
human interest
If something such as a news story has human interest , people are likely to find it interesting because it gives interesting details about the person or people involved .
interest group
a group that has some common interest or objective
public interest
the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth
short interest
the sum of the short sales in a security , commodity , etc., or on an exchange , which have not been covered as of a given date
simple interest
Simple interest is interest that is calculated on an original sum of money and not also on interest which has previously been added to the sum. Compare → compound interest .
vested interest
If you have a vested interest in something, you have a very strong reason for acting in a particular way, for example to protect your money, power, or reputation .
accrued interest
interest which has been earned since an investment was made or since a previous interest payment
compound interest
Compound interest is interest that is calculated both on an original sum of money and on interest which has previously been added to the sum. Compare → simple interest .
insurable interest
a financial or other interest in the life or property covered by an insurance contract , without which the contract cannot be enforced
interest-bearing
paying interest
interest-earning
paying interest
interest payment
a payment of interest on a loan or mortgage
overdraft interest
interest charged on money withdrawn in excess of the credit balance of a bank or building society account
special interest
a body of persons, corporation , or industry that seeks or receives benefits or privileged treatment , esp. through legislation
controlling interest
a quantity of shares in a business that is sufficient to ensure control over its direction
interest rate swap
An interest rate swap is a contract where two parties exchange the cash flow from interest rates.
interest repayments
Repayments are amounts of money which you pay at regular intervals to a person or organization in order to repay a debt.
unity of interest
the equal interest in property held by joint tenants
conflict of interest
a conflict between one's obligation to the public good and one's self-interest , as in the case of a public officeholder who owns stock in a company seeking government contracts
declare an interest
to make known one's connection , esp a prejudicial connection, with an affair
human interest story
a story in a newspaper , news broadcast , etc, that refers to individuals and their emotions
interest-rate futures
financial futures based on projected movements of interest rates
in the interest of
for the sake of
public-interest group
a group of people who seek to exert pressure on legislators , public opinion, etc, in order to promote their own ideas or welfare
special interest group
a group seeking to influence government policy in favour of a particular interest or issue
variable (interest) rate
an interest rate that varies in relation to fluctuations in the market rates of interest, as over the time period of a loan or mortgage
prime rate
A bank's prime rate is the lowest rate of interest which it charges at a particular time and which is offered only to certain customers .
Site of Special Scientific Interest
a protected area designated for natural or geological conservation
in the interests of/in the interest of
If you do something in the interests of a particular result or situation , you do it in order to achieve that result or maintain that situation.
EBIT
EBIT is the amount of profit that a person or company receives before interest and taxes have been deducted .
PITI
PITI is the components of a mortgage payment .
EBITDA
earnings before interest , tax , depreciation , and amortization
Chinese translation of 'interest'
interest
(ˈɪntrɪst)
n
(u/s) (in subject, idea, person) 兴(興)趣 (xìngqù)
⇒ There has been a lively interest in the elections.大家对选举兴致颇高。 (Dàjiā duì xuǎnjǔ xìngzhì pō gāo.)
(c) (= pastime, hobby) 爱(愛)好 (àihào) (个(個), gè)
⇒ His interests include cooking and photography.他的爱好包括烹调和摄影。 (Tā de àihào bāokuò pēngtiáo hé shèyǐng.)
(c) (= advantage, profit) 利益 (lìyì)
⇒ They would protect the interests of their members.他们将保护成员的利益。 (Tāmen jiāng bǎohù chéngyuán de lìyì.)
(u) (on loan, savings) 利息 (lìxī)
⇒ Does your current account pay interest?你的活期存款账户付利息吗？ (Nǐ de huóqī cúnkuǎn zhànghù fù lìxī ma?)
⇒ the interest you pay on your mortgage你付贷款的利息 (nǐ fù dàikuǎn de lìxī)
vt
[work, subject, idea]使感兴(興)趣 (shǐ gǎn xìngqù)
⇒ These are the stories that interest me.这些是使我感兴趣的故事。 (Zhèxiē shì shǐ wǒ gǎn xìngqù de gùshi.)
to take an interest in sth/sb对(對)某事/某人感兴(興)趣 (duì mǒushì/mǒurén gǎn xìngqù)
to show an interest in sth/sb显(顯)露对(對)某事/某人的兴(興)趣 (xiǎnlù duì mǒushì/mǒurén de xìngqù)
to lose interest (in sth/sb)对(對)(某事/某人)失去兴(興)趣 (duì (mǒushì/mǒurén) shīqù xìngqù)