interested
IHNT-uh-rihs-tihd
Interested (adj) means showing curiosity or attention toward something. Example: “My brother is interested in astronomy and spends his evenings looking at the stars.”
adj
1
Showing curiosity or attention toward something.
"My brother is interested in astronomy and spends his evenings looking at the stars."
"She seemed genuinely interested in his research."
"Are you interested in coming to the concert with us?"
2
Having a personal stake or something to gain, and therefore not neutral.
"A judge must not hear a case if he is an interested party."
"Her opinion is not neutral because she is an interested party in the sale."
"As an interested party in the deal, he had to disclose his connection to the buyer."
How to use interested
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither curious/paying attention, or having a personal stake that means you're not a neutral party.
Common mistake
"Interested" describes the person who feels curiosity or has a stake; "interesting" describes the thing that causes that curiosity. "I am boring" and "I am bored" follow the same pattern of confusion.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more interested
- Superlative
- most interested
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My brother is _____ in astronomy and spends his evenings looking at the stars.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for interested
vested
rested
invested
arrested
detested
untested
requested
congested
contested
uninterested
disinterested
See all rhymes for interested →
Frequently asked questions
What does “interested” mean?
The word “interested” means showing curiosity or attention toward something. In plain terms, either curious/paying attention, or having a personal stake that means you're not a neutral party.
How do you pronounce “interested”?
“Interested” is pronounced IHNT-uh-rihs-tihd (/ˈɪnt.əˌɹɛs.tɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “interested” in a sentence?
Here is “interested” used in a sentence: “She seemed genuinely interested in his research.”
What part of speech is “interested”?
“Interested” is an adjective.
Is “interested” a common word?
“Interested” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “interested” have?
“Interested” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showing curiosity or attention toward something.
What is the difference between 'interested' and 'interesting'?
'Interested' describes how you feel — curious about or drawn to something, as in 'I am interested in history'. 'Interesting' describes the thing that causes that feeling — 'History is interesting'. People are interested; the things that engage them are interesting. Mixing them up is one of the commonest English errors.
Is it 'interested in' or 'interested by'?
'Interested in' is the standard pairing and works in almost every case, as in 'She is interested in science'. 'Interested by' is possible but far less common, usually stressing a specific thing that caught your attention: 'I was interested by his reply'. When in doubt, choose 'interested in'.
What is an example of 'interested' in a sentence?
You might say, 'He seemed genuinely interested in what she was saying,' showing his curiosity and attention. Other examples include 'Are you interested in joining us?' or 'She is interested in learning the guitar.' In each case, the word describes a person's engagement with something, not the thing itself.
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