Meaning & use
interested in
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Having a feeling of curiosity or concern about something; wanting to know or learn more about it.
Grammar: Followed by a noun, pronoun, or -ing form: 'interested in art', 'interested in learning'.
Patterns
- interested in something
- interested in doing something
She is interested in learning Spanish.
Are you interested in joining our book club?
He is interested in the history of ancient Rome.
phrasefixed phrasebusiness
Involved in or affected by something, especially in a business or financial context.
Grammar: Often used with 'be' or 'become': 'be interested in a company'.
Patterns
- interested in something
Several investors are interested in the startup.
She is interested in the family business.
Common combinations
- interested in
- I'm interested in photography.
- interested in doing
- He's interested in studying abroad.
- very interested in
- They are very interested in your proposal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curious about
- Focuses on wanting to know more; 'interested in' is broader and can also mean involvement.
- keen on
- More informal and common in British English; 'interested in' is more neutral.
Opposites
Word family
- interest noun
- A feeling of wanting to know or learn about something.
- interesting adjective
- Arousing curiosity or attention.
Commonly confused: interested in or interesting?
interested in vs interesting
'Interested' describes how a person feels; 'interesting' describes something that causes interest. Compare: 'I am interested in the book' vs. 'The book is interesting.'
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Interested in' is followed by a noun or an -ing form, not by an infinitive or a bare verb. 'Interested in learning' is correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “interested in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.