the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something:She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne.
something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person: His interests are philosophy and chess.
power of exciting such concern, involvement, etc.; quality of being interesting: political issues of great interest.
concern; importance: a matter of primary interest.
a business, cause, or the like in which a person has a share, concern, responsibility, etc.
a share, right, or title in the ownership of property, in a commercial or financial undertaking, or the like: He bought half an interest in the store.
a participation in or concern for a cause, advantage, responsibility, etc.
a number or group of persons, or a party, financially interested in the same business, industry, or enterprise: the banking interest.
interests,the group of persons or organizations having extensive financial or business power.
the state of being affected by something in respect to advantage or detriment: We need an arbiter who is without interest in the outcome.
benefit; advantage: to have one's own interest in mind.
regard for one's own advantage or profit; self-interest: The partnership dissolved because of their conflicting interests.
influence from personal importance or capability; power of influencing the action of others.
Finance.
a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money.
such a sum expressed as a percentage of money borrowed to be paid over a given period, usually one year.
something added or thrown in above an exact equivalent: Jones paid him back with a left hook and added a right uppercut for interest.
verb (used with object)
to engage or excite the attention or curiosity of: Mystery stories interested him greatly.
to concern (a person, nation, etc.) in something; involve: The fight for peace interests all nations.
to cause to take a personal concern or share; induce to participate: to interest a person in an enterprise.
to cause to be concerned; affect.
Idioms for interest
in the interest(s) of, to the advantage or advancement of; in behalf of: in the interests of good government.
Origin of interest
1225–75; (noun) Middle English <Medieval Latin, Latin: it concerns, literally, it is between; replacing interesse<Medieval Latin, Latin: to concern, literally, to be between; (v.) earlier interess as v. use of the noun; see inter-, esse
OTHER WORDS FROM interest
o·ver·in·ter·est,nounpre·in·ter·est,noun,verbre·in·ter·est,noun,verb (used with object)
While 87 percent of Democrats say the coronavirus represents a threat to those vital interests — and 60 percent of independents agree — 48 percent of Republicans say the same.
Poll: Sharp partisan differences now exist on foreign policy, views of American exceptionalism|Dan Balz, Scott Clement|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
They were able to take the resources and use them in the interests of the average Norwegian.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
Buffett’s move has boosted the already sky-high institutional interest in the cloud-computing firm, Singh said.
Here’s who made a killing from Snowflake’s blockbuster IPO|Verne Kopytoff|September 16, 2020|Fortune
While special interest groups often submit draft legislation and regulations to policymakers, legal experts said executive orders are less common and aren’t subject to the same public scrutiny.
Emails Show the Meatpacking Industry Drafted an Executive Order to Keep Plants Open|by Michael Grabell and Bernice Yeung|September 14, 2020|ProPublica
Microsoft says it remains confident its proposal would have been “good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests.”
‘A 2nd or 3rd tier player’: How the size of Oracle’s China business helped it win TikTok|eamonbarrett|September 14, 2020|Fortune
Campaigns like opechatesgays.com assume that LGBT people are an interest group with only one interest: their own.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From his purview, our visit and interest had brought excitement to him and his peers.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This does not reflect lack of interest in a better environment.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only interest served by the Guardians of Peace is our prurient interest.
The Disaster Story That Hollywood Had Coming|Doug McIntyre|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this point in his life, Denton has enough filthy lucre in his bank account to affect a certain lack of interest in the stuff.
The Gospel According to Nick Denton—What Next For The Gawker Founder?|Lloyd Grove|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Breakfast over, each individual disposes of himself as best accords with inclination or interest.
Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure.|John S. Springer
Mr. Travilla asked, regarding her with interest as she took the book and opened it.
Mildred at Home|Martha Finley
This Prize, which is kept up by the interest accruing every three years, has been awarded at Cambridge regularly since 1845.
Toronto of Old|Henry Scadding
The bank official—for such Mr. Robinson was—listened with interest to all Philip Bartlett had to tell.
Randy of the River|Horatio Alger Jr.
Mather vindicates his taking such an interest in her case, on the ground that she was one of his "poor flock."
Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather|Charles W. Upham
British Dictionary definitions for interest
interest
/ (ˈɪntrɪst, -tərɪst) /
noun
the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someonean interest in butterflies
the power of stimulating such a senseto have great interest
the quality of such stimulation
something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit
(often plural)benefit; advantagein one's own interest
(often plural)
a right, share, or claim, esp in a business or property
the business, property, etc, in which a person has such concern
a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money
such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used
(often plural)a section of a community, etc, whose members have common aimswe must not offend the landed interest
declare an interestto make known one's connection, esp a prejudicial connection, with an affair
verb(tr)
to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of
to cause to become involved in something; concern
Word Origin for interest
C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be