noun

interest

interest, hobby, stake, dividend

She has a great interest in history.

She has a great interest in history.

My main interests are music and sport.

My main interests are music and sport.

The bank pays high interest on savings.

The bank pays high interest on savings.

He has a controlling interest in the company.

He has a controlling interest in the company.

an interest ((in sth.)) a feeling of wanting to know more about something She has a great interest in history.

interests ((plural)) hobbies or activities you enjoy My main interests are music and sport.

interest ((on sth.)) money paid for borrowing money The bank pays high interest on savings.

Synonyms: curiosity, concern, profit, stake

From Latin 'interesse' meaning 'to be between, make a difference, be important'.

Think of what is 'inter-' (between) you and an object, creating a connection. For money, it's the extra amount that comes 'between' the start and end of a loan.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.