interest

1 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​est ˈin-t(ə-)rəst 

ˈin-tə-ˌrest,

-ˌtrest;

ˈin-tərst

1

a

: a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone : concern

b

: something or someone that arouses such attention

c

: a quality in a thing or person arousing interest

2

: advantage, benefit

also : self-interest

3

a

: a charge for borrowed money generally a percentage of the amount borrowed

b

: the profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital

c

: an excess above what is due or expected

returned the insults with interest

4

a(1)

: right, title, or legal share in something

(2)

: participation in advantage and responsibility

b

: business, company

5

: special interest

interest

2 of 2

verb

interested; interesting; interests

transitive verb

1

: to engage the attention or arouse the interest of

2

: to induce or persuade to participate or engage

Synonyms

Noun

• stake
• share

Verb

• intrigue
• fascinate
• occupy
• involve
• immerse
• busy

Examples of interest in a Sentence

Noun

She told us about her lifelong interest in music.

The kids listened to the speaker for a little while, but then lost interest.

The speaker wasn't able to hold their interest.

She took an active interest in the political debate.

He expressed an interest in learning more about photography.

The stories about his personal life add interest to the book.

I thought this article might be of interest to you.

We visited many places of interest on our vacation.

The price of the ticket was a matter of interest to everyone.

Music is one of her many interests.

Verb

Military history doesn't really interest me.

It might interest you to know that the woman in this photograph is your great-grandmother.

It interested me to learn that she had once lived in California.

The salesman tried to interest me in a more expensive computer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization hit 1.8 million pounds, up from 200,000 pounds the year prior. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 July 2025

While the extent to which sustainable finishing technologies are integrated into their operations varies, all share a common interest in exploring the latest innovations available. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025

Verb

If possible, talk to your boss about your future and what interests you. —Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 26 June 2025

The Flames also have a lot of players who would interest the Sabres, who need a right-shot defenseman. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably alteration of earlier interesse, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter- + esse to be — more at is

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a(1)

Verb

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing interest

• a matter of interest
• compound interest
• conflict of interest
• controlling interest
• have no interest in
• human interest
• human-interest story
• interest-free
• interest group
• in the interest of
• in the national/public interest
• lively interest
• noncontrolling interest
• not the faintest interest
• of interest
• outside interest
• person of interest
• security interest
• self-interest
• simple interest
• special interest
• the faintest interest
• vested interest

Rhymes for interest

• noninterest

Kids Definition

interest

1 of 2 noun

in·​ter·​est ˈin-trəst 

ˈint-ə-ˌrest,

-ə-rəst,

ˈint-ərst;

ˈin-ˌtrest

1

: a right, title, or legal share in something

2

: something that promotes well-being : benefit

also : self-interest sense 2

3

a

: a charge for borrowed money that is generally a percentage of the amount borrowed

b

: the profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital

4

a

: readiness to be concerned with or moved by something

b

: a quality that arouses interest

modern art holds no interest for him

interest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to persuade to participate or take part

couldn't interest her in joining us

2

: to arouse or hold the interest of

the movie does not interest me

Legal Definition

interest

noun

in·​ter·​est ˈin-trəst; ˈin-tə-rəst, -ˌrest 

1

: a right, title, claim, or share in property

— Article Nine security interest

: security interest in this entry

— beneficial interest

: the right to the use and benefit of property

a beneficial interest in the trust

— contingent interest

: a future interest whose vesting is dependent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a future event compare vested interest in this entry

— controlling interest

: sufficient stock ownership in a corporation to exert control over policy

— equitable interest

: an interest (as a beneficial interest) that is held by virtue of equitable title or that may be claimed on the ground of equitable relief

claimed an equitable interest in the debtor's assets

— executory interest

: a future interest other than a remainder or reversion that may take effect upon the divesting of a prior interest or one created simultaneously

Note: Unlike a remainder, an executory interest does not require the expiration of a prior interest. It was designed to guard against the destructibility of contingent remainders set forth in the rule in Shelley's case.

— expectation interest

: the interest of a party to a breached contract in receiving the benefit of the bargain by being put in a position as good as that which would have resulted had the contract been performed

called also expectancy interest

compare reliance interest in this entry

— future interest

: an interest in property limited or created so that its owner will come into the use, possession, or enjoyment of it at some future time see also contingent interest and executory interest in this entry compare remainder, reversion

— insurable interest

: an interest or stake in property or in a person that arises from the potential for especially financial loss upon the destruction of the property or the death of the person and that is a requirement for enforcing an insurance contract

Note: The purpose of requiring an insurable interest is to prevent the use of insurance as a form of gambling or as a method of profiting from destruction.

— legal interest

: an interest that is recognized in law (as by legal title) compare equitable interest in this entry, legal title at title

— life interest

: an interest lasting for the duration of a person's life that forecloses the ability to affect the property beyond that term compare life estate at estate sense 1

— possessory interest

: an interest (as a right) involving or arising out of the possession of property

Note: A possessory interest is based on control rather than use. Thus a lessee who occupies and controls the use of property has a possessory interest, while a party who has an easement does not.

— purchase money security interest

: the security interest held by the seller of collateral to secure payment of all or part of the price

: the security interest of a person that gives value to a debtor so that the debtor may acquire rights in or the use of collateral

— reliance interest

: the interest of a party to a breached contract in being compensated for detriments suffered (as expenses incurred) in reliance on the agreement compare expectation interest in this entry

— reversionary interest

: an interest in property (as a possibility of reverter or a power of termination) remaining in the transferor of the property or in his or her successor in interest

— security interest

: an interest in property that exists by contract as security for payment or performance of an obligation

the security interest of a mortgagee in the mortgaged property

also : lien

Note: While a lien may be created by statutory or judicial means without any agreement providing for security (as in the case of a tax lien or judgment lien), a security interest and lien may inhere in the same claim, as when a mortgage comprises both a lien on and security interest in the mortgaged property.

: an interest in personal property or fixtures created by a security agreement that secures payment or performance of an obligation

the creditor had a security interest in the inventory and accounts receivable of the business

called also Article Nine security interest

see also attach sense 3, collateral sense 2, perfect entry 2 sense b, purchase money security interest in this entry

Note: Security interests in personal property are governed by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The security interest set out in Article 9 largely replaces the traditional devices for security, such as the pledge and chattel mortgage. A security interest in property that has attached enables a creditor to obtain satisfaction of a debt out of the property without the need to obtain a judgment in court and levy on the property. Further, it provides the creditor with priority over competing claims against the property.

— terminable interest

: an interest (as in a life estate) that will terminate upon the occurrence of an event or the passing of time

— vested interest

: a present and certain right to the present or future enjoyment of property compare contingent interest in this entry

— working interest

: the interest of a party that holds the right to oil, gas, or minerals on a property and that bears production costs see also overriding royalty

2

: a specific concern or level of involvement (as financial involvement) especially that warrants recognition or causes bias

had a right to intervene because of an interest in the litigation

recused himself due to an interest in the matter

see also conflict of interest

3

: something that causes or warrants particular attention: as

a

: a principle, purpose, or object of concern

— compelling state interest

: a governmental interest (as in educating children or protecting the public) which is so important that it outweighs individual rights

— public interest

a : the general welfare and rights of the public that are to be recognized, protected, and advanced

the attorney general has standing as a representative of the public interest

b : a specific public benefit or stake in something

the public interest in controlling crime

: the concern or attention of the public

a matter of widespread public interest

b

: a right especially that arises from a constitution (as the U.S. Constitution)

especially : such a right considered as an issue or claim created in or involving a particular situation or thing

no person will be deprived of his interests in the absence of a proceeding in which he may present his case

—Marshall v. Jerrico, Inc., 446 U.S. 238 (1980)

— liberty interest

: an interest in freedom from governmental deprivation of liberty especially without due process

the liberty interest implicated by the needless discouragement of the exercise of the right to counsel

—State v. Albert, 899 P.2d 103 (1995) (dissent)

— privacy interest

: an interest in freedom from governmental intrusion into matters in which one has a reasonable expectation of privacy

we have no privacy interest protected by the federal Constitution in limiting public or government access to knowledge of our financial transactions

—L. H. Tribe

— property interest

: an interest in freedom from governmental deprivation of property and sources of financial gain (as employment or a government benefit) without due process

broadly : something (as a job or benefit) to which one has a legitimate claim of entitlement and that cannot be taken away without due process as distinguished from the unprotected object of a need, desire, or expectation

4

: the well-being of a person

—often used in pl.

does not serve the child's best interests

5

: a charge for the use of another's money that is usually a percentage of the money being used

an account yielding 7% interest

paid back the loan with interest

— compound interest

: interest computed on the sum of the original principal and accrued interest

— legal interest

: a lawful interest rate and especially the highest rate allowed

proposals to increase the legal interest on department store credit cards to 15%

—American Banker

also : interest computed at such a rate

awarded the defendant legal interest

compare usury

— qualified residence interest

: interest that is deductible from adjusted gross income under federal tax law when it is paid on debt that is secured by one's residence and that was incurred for the acquisition, construction, improvement, or refinancing of the residence or through a home equity loan

— simple interest

: interest computed on the principal of a loan or account

Etymology

Noun

probably alteration of earlier interesse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter- between, among + esse to be