interested
Americanadjective
-
having an interest in something; concerned.
Interested members will meet at noon.
-
having the attention or curiosity engaged.
an interested spectator.
-
characterized by a feeling of interest.
-
influenced by personal or selfish motives.
an interested witness.
-
participating; having an interest or share; having money involved.
adjective
-
showing or having interest
-
(usually prenominal) personally involved or implicated
the interested parties met to discuss the business
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of interested
First recorded in 1655–65; interest ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) or -ed 3 ( def. )
Explanation
If you're interested in something, you like it and want to know more. If you're snoring through a movie, you're probably not that interested in it. If you're interested in something, it has your attention. Some people are interested in sports; others are interested in books. If you like something and want to learn more about it, or just enjoy thinking about it, then you're interested. People can also be interested in things they have a stake in: we would say both the workers and employers are "interested parties" in a labor dispute, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing interested
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Hooked on a Feeling, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 20, Lessons 3–4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Intron RNA had never been detected outside a cell, which made the researchers especially interested in looking for it inside the bacterium's prey.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
Any interested party — a hospital, nursing home, social worker, adult protective services, friend or relative — can file a formal petition with the local probate or superior court.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Salary cap regulations might not be high on everyone's holiday reading list, but agent Eddie Hearn might be interested if he's keen to get Henry Pollock's £1m pay-day.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
“Lifetime is always interested in shows that kind of tap into a powerful nostalgia that can be made fresh for today’s audience,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Right then I wasn’t interested in any old green thing popping up out of the ground.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
