# interest

/ˈɪntɝəst/ (US) · /ˈɪntɹəst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/interest
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. curiosity or attention

noun · CEFR A1

the feeling of wanting to give your attention to something or learn more about it.

For teachers: the quality of exciting curiosity or holding the attention; a state of psychological engagement with a subject.

- The students showed a lot of interest in the science experiment.
- Her lifelong interest in marine biology eventually led her to pursue a doctorate in deep-sea ecosystems.

### 2. a hobby or activity

noun · CEFR A2

an activity or subject that you enjoy and spend your free time on.

For teachers: a subject, activity, or hobby that a person finds engaging or enjoyable.

- Outside of work, his main interests are photography and hiking.
- The club provides a space for people with diverse interests to gather and share their expertise on local history.

### 3. finance

noun · CEFR B1

the extra money you must pay back when you borrow money, or money you earn on your savings.

For teachers: the charge for the privilege of borrowing money, typically expressed as an annual percentage rate.

- The bank raised the interest rate on credit cards this month.
- Low interest rates encouraged many first-time buyers to enter the housing market despite rising property prices.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the concept or the rate.

### 4. a stake or share

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a legal or financial share in a business or property.

For teachers: a financial stake, legal share, or right in a commercial undertaking or property.

- The company has a controlling interest in several smaller tech firms.
- He was forced to sell his minority interest in the family business following a dispute over the new expansion strategy.

### 5. benefit or advantage

noun · CEFR B2

something that is good for a person or a group.

For teachers: the advantage or benefit of a person or group; often used in the plural to describe collective goals.

- The government claims the new law is in the public interest.
- The mediator worked to find a solution that protected the interests of both the employees and the shareholders.

### 6. to attract attention

verb · CEFR A2

to make someone want to know more about something.

For teachers: to excite the curiosity or attention of someone; to engage a person's mind.

- Does this type of music interest you at all?
- The documentary failed to interest the younger viewers, who found the pacing too slow and the subject matter too abstract.

## Examples

- The bank pays me interest on my savings every month.
- High interest rates make it more expensive for people to take out a mortgage for a new home.
- Compound interest allows an initial investment to grow exponentially over time, as the percentage is calculated on both the principal and the accumulated gains from previous periods.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.