- a diversion that occupies one''s time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
"sailing is her favorite pastime"
"his main pastime is gambling"
"he counts reading among his interests"
"they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits"

- a reason for wanting something done
"for your sake"
"died for the sake of his country"
"in the interest of safety"
"in the common interest"

- the power of attracting or holding one''s interest (because it is unusual or exciting etc.)
"they said nothing of great interest"
"primary colors can add interest to a room"

- a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
"an interest in music"

- (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims
"the iron interests stepped up production"

- (law) a right or legal share of something

- a financial involvement with something
"they have interests all over the world"
"a stake in the company''s future"

- a fixed charge for borrowing money

- usually a percentage of the amount borrowed
"how much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"

- excite the curiosity of

- engage the interest of

- be on the mind of
"I worry about the second Germanic consonant"

- be of importance or consequence
"This matters to me!"

1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work.

"To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men." -- Dryden.

"A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages." -- Addison.

2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [Obs.]

"Or rather, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel." -- Ford.

3. To cause or permit to share. [Obs.]

"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." -- Hooker.

Syn. -- To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.

1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern.

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Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting.

"So much interest have I in thy sorrow." -- Shak.

2. Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.

3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.

"Divisions hinder the common interest and public good." -- Sir W. Temple.

"When interest calls of all her sneaking train." -- Pope.

4. Premium paid for the use of money, -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars.

"They have told their money, and let out Their coin upon large interest." -- Shak.

5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.

"You shall have your desires with interest." -- Shak.

6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.

Compound interest
interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due.

Simple interest
interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest.