Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing interest, curiosity, or concern: Feeling or expressing a desire to know, learn about, or be involved with something or someone.
   • Having a personal stake or involvement; not impartial: Being affected by or having a share in a matter, often implying a potential for bias due to personal benefit or connection.

Examples of Usage

• Having or showing interest:
  • She is interested in learning Spanish.
  • He gave me an interested look when I mentioned the secret project.
  • The children were deeply interested in the story.
• Having a personal stake:
  • As an interested party, he could not vote on the proposal.
  • All interested shareholders must attend the meeting.
  • The judge recused herself because she was an interested party in the case.

Advanced Usage

• "To be interested to know/see/hear": Used to express curiosity about a specific piece of information or outcome.
  • I would be interested to hear your opinion on this matter.
  • We are interested to see how the new policy will work.
• "Personally interested": Emphasizes a direct, individual stake or concern.
  • She is not just a consultant; she is personally interested in the company's success.

Variants and Related Words

• Interest (noun/verb): The feeling of wanting to know or learn about something; to excite the curiosity or attention of.
  • His main interest is astronomy.
  • This book might interest you.
• Interesting (adjective): Arousing curiosity or holding attention.
  • That was an interesting documentary.
• Disinterested (adjective): Not influenced by personal advantage; impartial. (Note: This is different from "uninterested").
  • We need a disinterested third party to mediate.

Synonyms

• Curious: Eager to know or learn something.
• Engaged: Involved in an activity; paying attention.
• Involved: Connected or concerned with something, often personally or emotionally.
• Concerned: Involved or interested in a situation, especially one that affects you.

Antonyms

• Uninterested: Not interested; indifferent.
• Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• Indifferent: Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.

Related Phrases

• Vested interest: A personal stake or involvement in an undertaking or state of affairs, especially with an expectation of gain.
  • The politician has a vested interest in the new housing development.
• Conflict of interest: A situation in which a person's personal interests could compromise their professional judgment or duties.
  • The lawyer had a conflict of interest and could not take the case.

Adjective

1. involved in or affected by or having a claim to or share in
   • a memorandum to those concerned
   • an enterprise in which three men are concerned
   • factors concerned in the rise and fall of epidemics
   • the interested parties met to discuss the business
2. having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
   • an interested audience
   • interested in sports
   • was interested to hear about her family
   • interested in knowing who was on the telephone
   • interested spectators