interest

²interest

verb

Definition of INTEREST

transitive verb

1

: to induce or persuade to participate or engage

2

: to engage the attention or arouse the interest of

Examples of INTEREST

1. Military history doesn't really interest me.
2. It might interest you to know that the woman in this photograph is your great-grandmother.
3. It interested me to learn that she had once lived in California.
4. The salesman tried to interest me in a more expensive computer.

First Known Use of INTEREST

1608

Related to INTEREST

Synonyms: absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, engage, intrigue, involve, occupy

Related Words: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Near Antonyms: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

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