interest

plural interests · alternative obsolete enterest · alternative obsolete interess · alternative intherest

1. uncountableusuallybusinessThe price paid for obtaining, or price received for providing, money or goods in a credit transaction, calculated as a fraction of the amount or value of what was borrowed.First known use earlier 16th c.

   Our bank offers borrowers an annual interest of 5%.

   Synonyms: cost of money, oker

2. uncountableusuallybusinessAny excess over and above an exact equivalent

   You shall have your desires with interest

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

3. uncountableusuallyA great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.First known use later 18th c.

   He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.

   3 more examples

   I have a lot of interest in doing online coding.

   The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

4. uncountableusuallyAttention that is given to or received from someone or something.

   Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an "explosion."

   2013 June 21, Chico Harlan, “Japan pockets the subsidy […]”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 30

   2 more examples

   […] St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Over the past few years, however, interest has waxed again. A series of epidemiological studies, none big enough to be probative, but all pointing in the same direction, persuaded Emma Wilmot of the University of Leicester, in Britain, to carry out a meta-analysis. This is a technique that combines diverse studies in a statistically meaningful way.

   2013 August 10, “Standing orders”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

5. in pluraloftenuncountableusuallyAdvantage, welfare, or something that serves it.

   The whole difference comes down to this, that Trotsky believed himself to 'represent the historical interests of the proletariat', while Stalin believed that he, Stalin, did so.

   1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume III: The Breakdown, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozkład (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 198

6. countableusuallyAn involvement, claim, right, share, stake in or link with a financial, business, or other undertaking or endeavor.

   I have business interests in South Africa.

   3 more examples

   When scientists and doctors write articles and when politicians run for office, they are required in many countries to declare any existing conflicts of interest (competing interests).

   She has an interest in the proceedings, and all stakeholders' interests must be protected.

   However he lost out, as other business interests whom he had alienated by his efforts to squeeze every penny of profit from the canal, supported the construction of the railway.

   2025 June 25, Christian Wolmar, “How slow boats gradually gave way to rail”, in RAIL, number 1038, page 57

7. countableusuallySomething which, or someone whom, one is interested in.

   Lexicography is one of my interests.

   2 more examples

   Victorian furniture is an interest of mine.

   The main character's romantic interest will be played by a non-professional actor.

8. uncountableusuallyCondition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance.

   The Conscience indeed is already violated when to moral good or evil we oppose things possessing no moral interest: […]

   1809 September 7, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “THURSDAY, September 7, 1809”, in The Friend; a Literary, Moral, and Political Weekly Paper, […], number 4, Penrith, Cumbria: […] J. Brown; and sold by Messrs. Longman and Co. […], and Clement, […], →OCLC, page 52

9. obsoleterareuncountableusuallyInjury, or compensation for injury; damages.

   How can this infinite beauty, power and goodnes admit any correspondencie or similitude with a thing so base and abject as we are, without extreme interest and manifest derogation from his divine greatnesse?

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

10. in pluraloftenuncountableusuallyThe persons and companies interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.

    the iron interest;  the cotton interest

    1 more example

    The ‘Railway Interest’ in Parliament constituted a very powerful lobby at this time [mid to late nineteenth century]. It was pledged to put the railway case forward in all matters involving that industry that came before Parliament. This body of MPs was composed of men who were nearly all railway directors or major shareholders. Their influence waned in the early twentieth century but earlier they formed a phalanx of robust opposition to just about every proposal for government regulation of matters pertaining to railways.

    2023, David Brandon, The General Strike 1926: A New History, Pen and Sword Books Ltd, →ISBN, page 29

11. attributivehistoricaluncountableusuallyA genre of factual short films, generally more amusing than informative, especially those not covered by a more specific genre label.

    The arrangements made ensured that the total cost of censorship could be kept down to one-fifth of a penny per foot of film censored (and even one-tenth of a penny per foot in cases of Topical, Travel, Interest and Educational Films).

    1924 March 5, Kevin O'Higgins, “CENSORSHIP OF FILMS ACT, 1923”, in Dáil debates, volume 6, number 22

    2 more examples

    By interest films is meant a variety of subjects which cannot be classified under such recognized headings as fiction, travel, or topical. They include wonderful inventions, little known industries, applied art, feats of engineering, and other events capable of effective illustration.

    1921 Davidson Boughey, The Film Industry (London : Sir Isaac Pitman) p. 76

    At the top of Charing Cross Road is the "Tatler," which has specialised for a long time in a general sort of program, built up of about 15 minutes of news, a cartoon (sometimes two), an interest picture, occasionally a comedy, and nearly always a documentary.

    1939 March-April, J. Neill-Brown, "The Industry's Front Page" The Cine-Technician (London) Vol. 4 no. 20 p. 200

present singular third person interests · participle present interesting · participle past interested · past interested · alternative obsolete enterest · alternative obsolete interess · alternative intherest

1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.

   Action films don't really interest me.

   1 more example

   It might interest you to learn that others have already tried that approach.

2. impersonalobsoleteoftenTo be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.

   Oh, rather, gracious sir, / Create me to this glory; since my cause / Doth interest this fair quarrel; valued least, / I am his equal.

   1840, Philip Massinger, Ford, John, The Dramatic Works of Massinger and Ford, Harvard University, published 1840, →OCLC, page 112

3. obsoleteTo cause or permit to share.

   The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands.

   [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page)