interested

1 of 2

adjective

in·​ter·​est·​ed ˈin-t(ə-)rə-stəd How to pronounce interested (audio) ˈin-tə-ˌre- How to pronounce interested (audio)
ˈin-ˌtre-;
ˈin-tər-
Synonyms of interestednext
1
: having the attention engaged
interested listeners
2
: being affected or involved
interested parties
interestedly adverb

interested

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of interest entry 2

Examples of interested in a Sentence

Adjective The listeners were all greatly interested in the lecture. students who are interested in archaeology I'd be interested to learn more about his background. I'm interested to hear what you have to say. I was very interested to learn that she had once lived in California. I asked him if he wanted to play tennis, but he said he wasn't interested. The plan will have to be approved by all interested parties.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
That hearing is two days before LSU — the one SEC team known to be interested in signing such players — opens its season against Clemson. — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Yet Lamb and Well are primarily interested in how a once tiny Hollywood bar on McCadden Place became ground zero for a movement that over the decades has regularly come in and out of popularity. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Also, there have been reports former KU wing Tre White, who agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat and like Council played NBA summer league basketball, might be interested in returning to KU. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 All of the Worldcon booths were visited by many interested people, young and old. — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interested

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of interested was in 1602

Rhymes for interested

See All Rhymes for interested

Browse Nearby Words

interest-bearing
interested
interesterification
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interested.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interested. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

interested

adjective
in·​ter·​est·​ed
: having a recognizable interest in a matter compare interest sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on interested

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for interested

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