Interest | in· ter· est | \ ˈin-t(ə-)rəst; ˈin-tə-ˌrest, -ˌtrest; ˈin-tərst\ noun

Definition of interest

1a: a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone: concern

b: something or someone that arouses such attention

c: a quality in a thing or person arousing interest

Interest is a feeling or emotion that causes attention to focus on an object, event, or process. In contemporary psychology of interest, the term is used as a general concept that may encompass other more specific psychological terms, such as curiosity and to a much lesser degree surprise.

The emotion of interest does have its own facial expression, of which the most prominent component has dilated pupils.

Explore Past Emotions