Interest vs. Attention — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 23, 2023
Interest is a feeling of wanting to know or learn about something. Attention is the act of focusing the mind on something, noticing it.
Difference Between Interest and Attention
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Interest implies a state of curiosity or concern about something, leading to a desire to learn more or become involved. It often involves an emotional or intellectual investment. Conversely, Attention refers to the concentration of mental power on a specific object, task, or subject, often without the emotional aspect that interest carries.
In a learning context, interest drives the desire to explore or understand a new topic, which can be long-lasting and deeply engaging. Attention, in this context, is the focused mental effort required to process information or perform a task, which can be short-term and task-specific.
Interest can also refer to a stake or share in something, especially in financial or business terms, indicating involvement or investment. Attention, on the other hand, is a cognitive process that involves actively processing specific stimuli from the environment, such as listening to a lecture or watching a performance.
Interest can grow over time as one becomes more involved or knowledgeable about a subject. It often leads to a sustained engagement or pursuit. In contrast, Attention is often momentary, requiring immediate mental presence and can be shifted from one object to another relatively quickly.
Interest can be passive, such as an interest in a book genre, requiring no immediate action. Attention, however, is an active process, requiring the engagement of sensory and cognitive resources, like paying attention to a speaker or a task at hand.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Desire to know or learn about something
Concentration on or noticing something
Emotional Component
Often involves emotional engagement
Primarily a cognitive process
Duration
Can be long-term and evolving
Usually immediate and can be short-lived
Contexts
Curiosity, hobbies, financial stakes
Focused thought, sensory perception, alertness
Nature
Can be passive or active
Requires active mental engagement
Compare with Definitions
Interest
Financial Stake
They earn interest on their savings account.
Attention
Focus
He paid close attention to the instructions.
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.
Attention
Alertness
Her sudden shout captured everyone's attention.
Interest
A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something
An interest in sports.
Attention
Concentration
Maintaining attention during the long lecture was challenging.
Interest
Something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state
Counts the theater among his interests.
Attention
Consideration
The proposal needs your immediate attention.
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.
Attention
Observation
She drew attention to the fine details of the painting.
Interest
A right, claim, or legal share
An interest in the new company.
Attention
Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information. William James (1890) wrote that "Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought.
Interest
Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held
Has interests overseas.
Attention
Notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important
He drew attention to three spelling mistakes
Interest
A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share
A petroleum interest.
Attention
The action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something
He was found guilty of failing to give a patient adequate medical attention
Her business needed her attention
Interest
Involvement with or participation in something
She has an interest in the quality of her education.
Attention
A position assumed by a soldier, standing very straight with the feet together and the arms straight down the sides of the body
Saunders stood stolidly to attention
Interest
A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.
Attention
The act of close or careful observing or listening
You'll learn more if you pay attention in class.
Interest
An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.
Attention
The ability or power to keep the mind on something; the ability to concentrate
We turned our attention to the poem's last stanza.
Interest
An interest group.
Attention
Notice or observation
The billboard caught our attention.
Interest
The particular cause supported by an interest group.
Attention
The act of dealing with something or someone; treatment
This injury requires immediate medical attention.
Interest
To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of
Your opinions interest me.
Attention
Acts of interest or interference
"men who wanted ... freedom from censorship and the attentions of the police" (John Kenneth Galbraith).
Interest
To cause to become involved or concerned with
Tried to interest her in taking a walk.
Attention
A military posture, with the body erect, eyes to the front, arms at the sides, and heels together.
Interest
(Archaic) To concern or affect.
Attention
Used as a command to assume an erect military posture.
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%.
Attention
(uncountable) Mental focus.
Please direct your attention to the following words.
Interest
Any excess over and above an exact equivalent
Attention
(countable) An action or remark expressing concern for or interest in someone or something, especially romantic interest.
Interest
(uncountable) A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.
He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.
Attention
A state of alertness in the standing position.
The company will now come to attention.
Interest
(uncountable) Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.
Attention
A technique in neural networks that mimics cognitive attention, enhancing the important parts of the input data while giving less priority to the rest.
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.
Attention
(military) Used as a command to bring soldiers to the attention position.
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.
Attention
A call for people to be quiet/stop doing what they are presently doing and pay heed to what they are to be told or shown.
Interest
(uncountable) Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance.
Attention
The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice; exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought, or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or faculty of attending.
They say the tongues of dying menEnforce attention like deep harmony.
Interest
Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.
Attention
An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger.
Interest
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.
The iron interest;
The cotton interest
Attention
The process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
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.
Attention
The work of caring for or attending to someone or something;
No medical care was required
The old car needed constant attention
Interest
To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.
Attention
A general interest that leads people to want to know more;
She was the center of attention
Interest
(obsolete) To cause or permit to share.
Attention
A courteous act indicating affection;
She tried to win his heart with her many attentions
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.
Attention
The faculty or power of mental concentration;
Keeping track of all the details requires your complete attention
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.
Attention
A motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet together; assumed by military personnel during drill or review;
The troops stood at attention
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Interest
Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
You shall have your desires with interest.
Interest
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.
Interest
A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something;
An interest in music
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
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
Interest
A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed;
How much interest do you pay on your mortgage?
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
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
Interest
(usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims;
The iron interests stepped up production
Interest
Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
Interest
Be on the mind of;
I worry about the second Germanic consonant
Interest
Be of importance or consequence;
This matters to me!
Interest
Curiosity
Her interest in astronomy led her to buy a telescope.
Interest
Hobby
He has a keen interest in vintage cars.
Interest
Involvement
She took an active interest in local politics.
Interest
Preference
My interest in mystery novels began in my teens.
Common Curiosities
How is attention used in education?
In education, attention refers to focusing the mind on learning or understanding material.
Can interest be financial?
Yes, financial interest refers to monetary gain or involvement in investments.
What role does attention play in communication?
In communication, attention is crucial for effectively receiving and processing information.
Is interest always active?
Interest can be both active (engaging with something) and passive (a general liking).
What is selective attention?
Selective attention is focusing on a specific aspect while ignoring other stimuli.
How does attention affect performance?
Good attention improves performance by enhancing focus and reducing errors.
What's a conflict of interest?
A conflict of interest occurs when personal interests interfere with professional duties.
Is having an interest in something enough to be good at it?
Having an interest is a starting point, but skill development often requires practice and dedication.
How does divided attention work?
Divided attention is the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously.
What is sustained attention?
Sustained attention is the ability to maintain focus over a prolonged period.
What does interest mean in a hobby?
In a hobby, interest means a keen desire or enjoyment in engaging with that activity.
How does one develop an interest in something new?
Developing an interest can start with exposure, curiosity, and learning more about the topic.
Is it possible to lose interest in something?
Yes, it's common for interests to change or diminish over time.
Can interests change over time?
Yes, interests can evolve and change as one gains new experiences.
Can attention be trained or improved?
Yes, attention can be improved with techniques like mindfulness and cognitive exercises.
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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.
