1. A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
   "an interest in music";
   - involvement
    
2. A reason for wanting something done
   "in the interest of safety"; "in the common interest";
   - sake
    
3. The power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.)
   "they said nothing of great interest"; "primary colours can add interest to a room";
   - interestingness
    
4. A price paid for borrowing money, or payment received for lending money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed
   "how much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"
    
5. (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something
   "they have interests all over the world";
   - stake
    
6. (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims
   "the iron interests stepped up production"; "Environmental interest groups lobbied for stricter pollution controls";
   - interest group
    
7. A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
   "he counts reading among his interests";
   - pastime, pursuit

1. Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
   "The documentary interested him in marine biology"; "Her passion for art interested many students"
    
2. Be on the mind of
   "The upcoming exam interested all the students";
   - concern, occupy, worry
    
3. Be of importance or consequence
   "This interests me!";
   - matter to

Derived forms: interested, interesting, interests

See also: interesting, lame, lameo [informal], matter, meh [informal], uninspiring, uninteresting

Type of: arouse, bear on, benefit, cerebrate, cogitate, concern, curiosity, diversion, elicit, enkindle [literary], evoke, fixed charge, fixed cost, fixed costs, have to do with, kindle, part, percentage, pertain, portion, power, powerfulness, provoke, raise, recreation, refer, relate, share, social group, think, touch, touch on, welfare, wonder

Antonym: bore

Encyclopedia: Interest