Engage vs. Interest — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 14, 2024
Engage involves actively involving someone in an activity or discussion, while interest is about arousing curiosity or concern.
Difference Between Engage and Interest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Engage typically refers to capturing someone's attention fully or committing them in some way, such as engaging in conversation. Interest, on the other hand, pertains to creating a feeling of wanting to know or learn about something, which can be less involved.
Engagement demands an active participation or emotional commitment from a person, indicating a deeper level of involvement. Interest might not require participation and can simply be a passive state of curiosity.
To engage someone often implies a mutual interaction or a specific endeavor, like engaging in a project. Interest could be unilateral, as one may have interest in a subject without any active engagement from others.
Engagement can result in a sustained effort or ongoing commitment to a task or relationship. Interest, while it may initiate engagement, can be fleeting or superficial.
Businesses often aim to engage customers to foster loyalty and long-term relationships, whereas generating interest might be a preliminary step, focusing on attracting customers' initial attention.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Involving someone actively in an activity or discussion
Arousing curiosity or concern about something
Level of Involvement
High (active participation or commitment)
Variable, often lower (awareness or curiosity)
Directionality
Often mutual or interactive
Can be unilateral
Duration and Depth
Usually sustained and deep
Can be fleeting or superficial
Common Contexts
Projects, conversations, relationships
Topics, subjects, attractions
Compare with Definitions
Engage
To hire or contract someone.
They engaged a consultant for the new project.
Interest
Money paid for the use of borrowed money.
The bank offers an interest rate of 5% per annum.
Engage
To pledge or promise.
They were engaged last spring.
Interest
A hobby or activity that attracts someone.
Her interests include skiing and hiking.
Engage
Occupy or attract (someone's interest or attention)
I told him I was otherwise engaged
He ploughed on, trying to outline his plans and engage Sutton's attention
Interest
Interest, in finance and economics, is payment from a borrower or deposit-taking financial institution to a lender or depositor of an amount above repayment of the principal sum (that is, the amount borrowed), at a particular rate. It is distinct from a fee which the borrower may pay the lender or some third party.
Engage
Participate or become involved in
Some are actively engaged in crime
Organizations engage in a variety of activities
Interest
A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something
An interest in sports.
Engage
Arrange to employ or hire (someone)
He was engaged as a trainee copywriter
Interest
Something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state
Counts the theater among his interests.
Engage
(with reference to a part of a machine or engine) move into position so as to come into operation
The driver engaged the gears and pulled out into the road
The clutch will not engage
Interest
Often interests Regard for one's own benefit or advantage; self-interest
It is in your best interest to cooperate. She kept her own interests in mind.
Engage
(of fencers or swordsmen) bring (weapons) together preparatory to fighting.
Interest
A right, claim, or legal share
An interest in the new company.
Engage
(of a writer or artist) committed to a particular aim or cause.
Interest
Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held
Has interests overseas.
Engage
Actively committed, as to a political cause.
Interest
A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share
A petroleum interest.
Engage
To obtain or contract for the services of; employ
Engage a carpenter.
Interest
Involvement with or participation in something
She has an interest in the quality of her education.
Engage
To arrange for the use of; reserve
Engage a room.
Interest
A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.
Engage
(transitive) To interact socially.
Interest
An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.
Engage
To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied.
Interest
An interest group.
Engage
To draw into conversation.
Interest
The particular cause supported by an interest group.
Engage
To attract, to please; (archaic) to fascinate or win over (someone).
Interest
To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of
Your opinions interest me.
Engage
To interact antagonistically.
Interest
To cause to become involved or concerned with
Tried to interest her in taking a walk.
Engage
(transitive) To enter into conflict with (an enemy).
Interest
(Archaic) To concern or affect.
Engage
(intransitive) To enter into battle.
Interest
The price paid for obtaining, or price received for providing, money or goods in a credit transaction, calculated as a fraction of the amount or value of what was borrowed.
Our bank offers borrowers an annual interest of 5%.
Engage
To interact contractually.
Interest
Any excess over and above an exact equivalent
Engage
(transitive) To arrange to employ or use (a worker, a space, etc.).
Interest
(uncountable) A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.
He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.
Engage
(intransitive) To guarantee or promise (to do something).
Interest
(uncountable) Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.
Engage
(transitive) To bind through legal or moral obligation (to do something, especially to marry) usually in passive.
They were engaged last month! They're planning to have the wedding next year.
Interest
(countable) An involvement, claim, right, share, stake in or link with a financial, business, or other undertaking or endeavor.
When scientists and doctors write articles and when politicians run for office, they are required in many countries to declare any existing conflicts of interest.
I have business interests in South Africa.
She has an interest in the proceedings, and all stakeholders' interests must be protected.
Engage
To pledge, pawn (one's property); to put (something) at risk or on the line; to mortgage (houses, land).
Interest
(countable) Something or someone one is interested in.
Lexicography is one of my interests.
Victorian furniture is an interest of mine.
The main character's romantic interest will be played by a non-professional actor.
Engage
To interact mechanically.
Interest
(uncountable) Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance.
Engage
To mesh or interlock (of machinery, especially a clutch).
Whenever I engage the clutch, the car stalls out.
Interest
Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.
Engage
To come into gear with.
The teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another.
Interest
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.
The iron interest;
The cotton interest
Engage
(intransitive) To enter into (an activity), to participate (construed with in).
Interest
To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.
It might interest you to learn that others have already tried that approach.
Action films don't really interest me.
Engage
To entangle.
Interest
To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.
Engage
To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise.
Interest
(obsolete) To cause or permit to share.
Engage
To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service.
Interest
To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work.
To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men.
A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages.
Engage
To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature engages everybody to him.
Interest
To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; - often used impersonally.
Or rather, gracious sir,Create me to this glory, since my causeDoth interest this fair quarrel.
Engage
To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage.
Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation.
Interest
To cause or permit to share.
The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands.
Engage
To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy.
Interest
Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a topic or engage often in an activity.
So much interest have I in thy sorrow.
Engage
To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part.
Interest
Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.
Engage
To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not.
Interest
Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.
Divisions hinder the common interest and public good.
When interest calls of all her sneaking train.
Engage
To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy.
Interest
A fee paid for the use of money; a fee paid for a loan; - usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars.
They have told their money, and let outTheir coin upon large interest.
Engage
To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.
Interest
Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
You shall have your desires with interest.
Engage
To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
Interest
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.
Engage
Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;
She pursued many activities
They engaged in a discussion
Interest
A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something;
An interest in music
Engage
Engage or engross wholly;
Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely
Interest
The power of attracting or holding one's interest (because it is unusual or exciting etc.);
They said nothing of great interest
Primary colors can add interest to a room
Engage
Engage or hire for work;
They hired two new secretaries in the department
How many people has she employed?
Interest
A reason for wanting something done;
For your sake
Died for the sake of his country
In the interest of safety
In the common interest
Engage
Ask to represent; of legal counsel;
I'm retaining a lawyer
Interest
A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed;
How much interest do you pay on your mortgage?
Engage
Give to in marriage
Interest
A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly);
Sailing is her favorite pastime
His main pastime is gambling
He counts reading among his interests
They criticized the boy for his limited pursuits
Engage
Get caught;
Make sure the gear is engaged
Interest
(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something;
They have interests all over the world
A stake in the company's future
Engage
As of wars, battles, or campaigns;
Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe
Interest
(usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims;
The iron interests stepped up production
Engage
As of aid, help, services, or support
Interest
Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
Engage
Engage for service under a term of contract;
We took an apartment on a quiet street
Let's rent a car
Shall we take a guide in Rome?
Interest
Be on the mind of;
I worry about the second Germanic consonant
Engage
Keep engaged;
Engaged the gears
Interest
Be of importance or consequence;
This matters to me!
Engage
To occupy or attract someone’s attention or efforts.
She was fully engaged in her research work.
Interest
The feeling of wanting to know or learn about something.
His interest in ancient history is quite impressive.
Engage
To participate or become involved in.
They engaged in a lively discussion.
Interest
A stake or involvement in a financial or business venture.
She has a significant interest in the startup.
Engage
To cause someone to become involved.
The teacher engaged his students with innovative lessons.
Interest
To create curiosity or concern.
The mystery novel interested him immediately.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to engage someone?
Engaging someone means to involve them actively and fully in an activity or conversation.
Can interest lead to engagement?
Yes, initial interest in a topic or activity can lead to further engagement with it.
What are some ways to engage an audience?
Ways to engage an audience include interactive discussions, engaging storytelling, and presenting relevant and compelling content.
How can a person show interest?
A person shows interest by expressing curiosity, asking questions, or investing time in learning more about a topic.
Is engagement a deeper commitment than interest?
Yes, engagement involves a deeper commitment and active participation, whereas interest might not involve active participation.
What is the difference between being engaged in a task and interested in a task?
Being engaged in a task involves actively working on it with commitment, whereas being interested may simply involve curiosity or casual attention.
Can one be interested in something but not engaged?
Yes, one can have an interest in a subject or activity without actively engaging in it.
How do businesses cultivate customer interest?
Businesses cultivate customer interest through marketing, offering new and innovative products, and engaging advertisements.
How does one convert interest into engagement?
To convert interest into engagement, one might offer more interactive or immersive experiences, or deeper involvement opportunities.
What role does interest play in education?
In education, interest plays a crucial role in motivating students to learn and explore subjects more deeply.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
