interview

American  

[in-ter-vyoo] / ˈɪn tərˌvyu /

noun

1. a formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or evaluate another person.

   a job interview.

2. a meeting or conversation in which a writer or reporter asks questions of one or more persons from whom material is sought for a newspaper story, television broadcast, etc.

3. the report of such a conversation or meeting.

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verb (used with object)

1. to have an interview with in order to question, consult, or evaluate.

   to interview a job applicant;

   to interview the president.

verb (used without object)

1. to have an interview; be interviewed (sometimes followed bywith ).

   She interviewed with eight companies before accepting a job.

2. to give or conduct an interview.

   to interview to fill job openings.

interview British  

/ ˈɪntəˌvjuː /

noun

1. a conversation with or questioning of a person, usually conducted for television, radio, or a newspaper

2. a formal discussion, esp one in which an employer assesses an applicant for a job

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verb

1. to conduct an interview with (someone)

2. (intr) to be interviewed, esp for a job

   he interviewed well and was given the position

Other Word Forms

• interviewable
  adjective
• interviewee
  noun
• interviewer
  noun
• preinterview
  noun
• quasi-interviewed
  adjective
• reinterview
  noun
• self-interview
  noun
• uninterviewed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of interview

First recorded in 1505–15; inter- + view; replacing enterview, from Middle French entrevue, noun use of feminine of entrevu “glimpsed,” past participle of entrevoir “to glimpse,” from entre “between” + voir “to see”

Explanation

Interview can be a verb or a noun, but whatever form it takes, it involves a formal meeting and asking or answering questions. When you go to a job interview, be prepared to answer questions about your strengths and weaknesses. The noun form of interview refers to a question-and-answer session. You’ve probably seen a TV interview with a famous person, or you may have gone to an interview with a college admissions director. The verb form of the word describes the act of asking the questions. You might interview a local politician for your school paper. Often an interview involves some kind of evaluation, so speak carefully if someone is interviewing you, especially if it's going to be published!

Example Sentences

"I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never," she told "CBS News Sunday Morning" as part of an interview airing this weekend.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Federal judges have ordered the agency to return some, including Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a Sacramento mother who was deported a day after her green card interview.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

“I pushed so hard, I wanted that movie to be so excellent,” Gyllenhaal said in his 2020 interview with Another Man.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

And in a wide-ranging exclusive 50-minute interview with BBC Sport, Venkatesham has spoken about:

From BBC • May 27, 2026

“Then I’ll get another interview somewhere else, and another, until I get hired,” Dad said.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• account
• conference
• consultation
• conversation
• dialogue
• examination
• hearing
• meeting
• press conference
• record
• statement
• talk