Interest has at least five meanings, so a single interest synonym rarely fits every sentence. Curiosity and attention cover the feeling, hobby and passion cover what you do for fun, benefit covers what is good for someone, and stake covers ownership. On a bank statement, interest is money, and the swaps change again.
Each sense below has its own list, with a mild to intense scale, notes on interests synonym choices for resumes, and the verb form, as in the topic interests me. You can also visit the interested synonyms page for the adjective.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
curiosity, hobby, passion, benefit, stakePart of speech
Noun, also verb (to interest someone)Most formal
welfare, pursuit, engagementMost casual
thing, cup of tea, jamStrongest
passion, fascination, obsessionAntonyms
boredom, indifference, apathyWatch out
Disinterested traditionally means neutral, not bored. A disinterested judge has no stake, an uninterested one does not care.Word forms covered
interests, interested, interesting
Interest synonym list for each meaning
| Meaning | Synonyms | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling of wanting to know | curiosity, attention, enthusiasm | The puppy drew plenty of attention. |
| Something you enjoy doing | hobby, pastime, pursuit, passion | Chess is her favorite pastime. |
| What is good for someone | benefit, welfare, sake, good | The rule is for the good of the players. |
| A share in something | stake, share, holding | He owns a small stake in the bakery. |
| Extra money on a loan or saving | return, yield, finance charge | The account offers a modest return. |
The phrase in the interest of usually becomes for the sake of: for the sake of time, we will skip the break.
Ranking the feeling from faint to fierce
Our colored strip ranks five feelings, gentlest first. Notice means something simply caught your eye. Curiosity adds a wish to know more. Enthusiasm brings energy and pleasure. Passion is deep and lasting, and fascination suggests you can hardly look away. Go one step further and you reach obsession, which often sounds unhealthy.
Interests on a resume or in an interview
The heading Interests is fine, but a fresh interests synonym can sound more polished: Hobbies is relaxed, Pursuits and Activities sound neutral, and Outside interests is common in British-style CVs. In an interview, describe the hobby with a verb that shows commitment: I run a weekend coding club says more than my interests include coding.
When talking about a job, I am keen on, I am drawn to and I am passionate about express interest at rising strength. See the career vocabulary hub for more.
Using interest as a verb
When something interests you, it catches and holds your attention. Swaps include intrigue (a puzzle or mystery), fascinate (strong and lasting), appeal to (fits a taste), engage (holds attention over time) and grab (informal and quick).
- The idea interests me becomes the idea intrigues me.
- Space has always interested him becomes space has always fascinated him.
- Would a trip to the coast interest you becomes does a trip to the coast appeal to you.
More everyday swaps
- She has an interest in old maps becomes she has a passion for old maps.
- The news caused a lot of interest becomes the news caused a stir.
- It is in your interest to apply early becomes it is to your advantage to apply early.
- The bank charges interest becomes the bank adds a finance charge.
- Cooking is not really my interest becomes cooking is not really my cup of tea (casual).
A club sign-up email: "Thank you for your interest in the choir." Friendlier version: "Thanks for reaching out about the choir. We would love to hear you sing." The swap turns a stock phrase into a warm welcome.
Disinterest, uninterest and other traps
Disinterested traditionally means impartial, with no stake in the outcome. Uninterested means not curious. Many speakers now use disinterested for bored, but careful editors still separate them. Also, concern can replace interest only in the sense of something that affects you: matters of public concern. It does not mean a hobby.
Words for a lack of interest
The opposite of interest as a feeling is boredom or indifference. Apathy is stronger and suggests no energy to care at all, and detachment is calm distance. For the verb, bore does the reverse job.
- The crowd met the speech with indifference.
- Long forms bore most customers.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for interests on a resume?
Hobbies, pursuits, activities or outside interests. Pick one heading and list specific items with a short detail each.
What does in the interest of mean?
It means for the benefit or sake of something. In the interest of safety means for safety's sake, and you can usually write it that way.
Which word shows deep interest?
Passion and fascination are the strongest everyday choices. Obsession goes further but can sound negative.
Is curiosity the same as interest?
Curiosity is a kind of interest: the wish to learn or find out. Interest is broader and can also mean a hobby, a benefit or a share.
Is disinterest the opposite of interest?
In casual use, yes. In careful writing, disinterest means impartiality, so lack of interest, indifference or boredom are safer antonyms.
What can replace interest when talking about money?
Return and yield describe what savings earn, while finance charge describes what a loan costs. Interest rate itself has no exact one-word swap.