ADJ
avid, burning, close, considerable, consuming, deep, great, intense, keen, lively, passionate, strong The police were starting to take a close interest in the company's activities. She always had a great interest in the supernatural particular growing, increasing slightest He's never shown the slightest interest in football general, widespread worldwide serious genuine abiding, lifelong passing renewed added I'll watch the programme with added interest now I know you're in it active passive polite He showed a polite interest in her story personal media The event attracted a lot of media interest
VERB + INTEREST
have evince, express, show, take My cousin expressed an interest in seeing where I work feign, simulate She feigned interest in a magazine article to avoid meeting the man's stare lose arouse, attract, awaken, caught, drum up, excite, generate, kindle, spark, stimulate, stir up, whip up A sticker on a bag caught my interest. The government failed to drum up any public interest in the referendum. A childhood journey sparked his lifelong interest in railways develop While in prison he developed an interest in art maintain, sustain Despite intensive publicity, Channel 4 failed to maintain interest in its expensive new show revive
INTEREST + VERB
grow flag, wane The children's interest began to flag after half an hour of the lesson
PREP
for/out of ~ I'm asking purely out of interest with ~ They listened with interest ~ among to stimulate interest among teachers ~ from growing interest from younger members ~ in She took an active interest in their welfare
ADJ
great particular Her comments are of particular interest to me broad, general, wide architectural, artistic, historic/historical, scientific academic Since the championship has already been decided, this match is of purely academic interest human a plot devoid of human interest love Angelina Jolie supplies the love interest in the film
VERB + INTEREST
be of His books are of no interest to me at all hold no Their conversation held no interest for me add Bushes that flower in winter will add interest to your garden supply
INTEREST + VERB
lie in The interest of the painting lies in its unusual use of colour
PREP
of ~ a building of great architectural interest
ADJ
diverse, varied, wide, wide-ranging private artistic, musical, etc.
VERB + INTEREST
have share pursue He wanted time to pursue his many and varied musical interests
ADJ
annual, monthly, etc. compound, simple
VERB + INTEREST
earn, make, receive pay charge
PREP
~ on to pay interest on a loan
PHRASES
a rate of interest a mortgage with a fixed/flexible rate of interest
ADJ
best It's not in your best interests to let your boss know you're looking for a new job self-, selfish common, mutual competing, contradictory long-term, short-term narrow narrow sectional interests direct Lawyers have a direct financial interest in the outcome of the debate paramount, vital vested national, public class, sectional foreign, outside economic, financial, political, strategic, etc.
VERB + INTEREST
defend, guard, look after, protect, safeguard act in, advance, champion, further, promote, serve He claimed to be acting in the public interest represent act against, jeopardize, threaten
INTEREST + NOUN
group Various interest groups have expressed their opposition to the policy
PREP
against sb/sth's ~(s) The solicitor refused to act against his client's interests contrary to sb/sth's ~ The union refused to support proposals that it saw as contrary to the interests of its members in sb/sth's ~(s) New work practices were introduced in the interests of efficiency of ~ We met to discuss matters of common interest out of ~ He was obviously acting purely out of selfish interest
PHRASES
a conflict of interests One member of the planning committee had a conflict of interests as he lived near the proposed motorway have sb's (best) interests at heart Although he was sometimes too strict with his children, he had their best interests at heart
ADJ
powerful controlling, majority minority joint banking, business, commercial, shipping
VERB + INTEREST
have He has controlling interests in several ventures sell