Meaning & use
interview
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Meanings
nouncountable
A formal meeting in which someone asks you questions to decide whether you suit a job or course.
Grammar: Takes an or an: she has an interview on Monday; often used with for.
Patterns
- an interview for something
- an interview with someone
- have an interview
I have a job interview on Thursday morning.
He wore a new suit to his interview with the hiring manager.
The college invites top applicants for an interview.
nouncountable
A conversation in which a journalist or researcher asks someone questions to publish or study their answers.
Grammar: Usually followed by with: an interview with the mayor.
Patterns
- an interview with someone
- give an interview
The singer gave a candid interview to a local radio station.
Read the full interview with the author online.
Researchers recorded a long interview with each volunteer.
verbtransitive
To ask someone questions in a formal meeting, either to judge them or to gather information.
Grammar: Takes an object: they interviewed ten candidates.
Patterns
- interview someone for something
- interview someone about something
The panel will interview five candidates tomorrow.
She interviewed survivors for her documentary.
We interviewed three plumbers before choosing one.
Word forms
| plural | interviews |
|---|---|
| third person singular | interviews |
| past tense | interviewed |
| past participle | interviewed |
| -ing form | interviewing |
Common combinations
- job interview
- She prepared for a job interview all weekend.
- conduct an interview
- The reporter conducted an interview with the winner.
- give an interview
- The coach declined to give an interview after the game.
- succeed in an interview
- He did well in the interview and got the job.
- interview for a position
- Five people will interview for the position next week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meeting
- A meeting is any gathering, while an interview is specifically a question-and-answer session with a clear purpose.
- audition
- An audition tests a performer by having them perform, while an interview tests someone through questions.
- questioning
- Questioning often suggests pressure or suspicion, as with police, whereas an interview can be friendly and planned.
- consultation
- A consultation is when an expert advises you, while an interview is when you are the one being asked.
Word family
- interviewer noun
- the person who asks the questions
- interviewee noun
- the person who answers the questions
- interviewing noun
- the act of conducting interviews
Commonly confused: interview or interrogation?
interview vs interrogation
Interrogation is intense questioning, often by police, while an interview is usually a calmer, planned conversation.
Practice
The company will ___ six applicants this week before deciding who to hire.
Choose one answer.
Interview is the normal verb for formally questioning job applicants. Interrogate suggests harsh questioning, and audition applies to performers.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “interview”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.