interested

interested — adjective

1. feeling or showing a desire to learn more about something, or to give it your fu

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

feeling or showing a desire to learn more about something, or to give it your full attention because you find it appealing or enjoyable

Example

Imran was deeply interested in ancient Egyptian history and spent every weekend at the museum.

interested in + topic (ancient history)

The children looked genuinely interested when the science teacher showed them how a volcano erupts.

interested in + how/what/who clauses

Common collocations
  • interested in
  • deeply interested
  • genuinely interested
  • particularly interested
  • very interested
Synonyms
  • curious

    focuses on the desire to know; 'curious' is more about asking questions, while 'interested' is about giving attention

  • fascinated

    stronger than 'interested'; suggests complete capture of attention

  • engaged

    emphasises active, focused involvement rather than just curiosity

  • intrigued

    suggests being drawn in by something puzzling or mysterious

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be interested in [noun phrase]

be interested in [gerund]

be interested to [infinitive]

Usage Note

This sense is nearly always used predicatively (after a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', 'look', 'become'), not before a noun. You say 'The child is interested', but you cannot say 'an interested child' to mean a curious child — the attributive use belongs to sense 2.

Common Mistakes

I am very interesting in learning Japanese.
I am very interested in learning Japanese.
'Interesting' describes the thing that causes curiosity; 'interested' describes the person who feels it.
She is interested about fashion.
She is interested in fashion.
The correct preposition after 'interested' (in this sense) is 'in', not 'about'.

2. having a direct personal, financial, or organisational connection to a situation

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a direct personal, financial, or organisational connection to a situation, such that you may benefit, suffer losses, or be impacted by whatever happens

Example

The city council invited all interested parties to attend the public hearing on the new zoning plan.

interested parties (formal/legal context)

Any interested organisation may apply for government funding to support local community programmes.

interested + noun (organisation/group)

Common collocations
  • interested parties
  • interested organisations
  • interested shareholders
  • interested buyers
  • interested groups
Synonyms
  • involved

    broader; can mean simply taking part, not necessarily with a stake in the outcome

  • concerned

    slightly more negative; often implies worry about the situation

  • affected

    neutral; simply indicates being impacted, without implying active interest

  • stakeholder

    noun form; more specific to business or organisational contexts

Antonyms
  • uninvolved

    not taking part

  • unaffected

    not impacted by the situation

  • disinterested

    WARNING: 'disinterested' does NOT mean 'not interested' — it means 'impartial, unbiased'. Do not confuse with 'uninterested'.

Grammar Patterns

interested + [noun]

the interested + [plural noun]

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is used attributively (before a noun) and does not take the preposition 'in'. Common in legal documents, business announcements, and formal notices. The phrase 'interested parties' is a fixed expression in legal English.

Common Mistakes

All interested in parties should attend the meeting.
All interested parties should attend the meeting.
In this sense, 'interested' goes directly before the noun, without 'in'.
He is interested to the outcome of the trial.
He is an interested party in the outcome of the trial.
This sense does not use 'interested to' or 'interested in'; it needs a noun after 'interested'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a state of attention, but they differ in intensity and flavour. 'Curious' highlights an active urge to know or explore — a child might be curious about how a clock works, asking endless questions. 'Fascinated' is stronger: it implies your attention is completely held, almost spellbound, as when watching a magician perform. 'Engaged' focuses on active participation rather than passive wonder — an engaged student asks questions, takes notes, and joins discussions. 'Intrigued' adds an element of mystery or puzzle — you are drawn in because something is not immediately clear, like a detective intrigued by a strange clue. For everyday interest, 'interested' is the safest and most neutral choice. Example: 'I was curious about the package on the table (I wanted to know what it was). I was fascinated by the way the machine moved (I could not look away). I felt engaged during the workshop (I participated actively). I was intrigued by her unusual question (it made me think).'

curious ↗fascinatedengaged ↗intrigued

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • interested in something
  • interested in doing something
  • interested to hear/see/learn

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'interested' traces back to the Latin verb 'interesse', meaning 'to be between, to be of concern or importance'. In Latin, 'interest' (third-person singular) was used impersonally in legal contexts: 'it makes a difference to, it concerns'. This legal/financial sense entered English through French in the 16th century — originally referring to having a legal or financial stake in something. By the 18th century, the meaning broadened to include emotional or intellectual engagement, giving us the modern sense of wanting to give attention to something. The adjective 'interested' thus carries a dual legacy: one sense rooted in business and law (having a stake), and another in personal curiosity and attention.