Interview Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Interview" is a formal meeting, especially for assessing qualifications of a candidate or gathering information, characterized by questions and answers. e.g., She prepared thoroughly for her job interview.
Table of Contents
Interview Definitions
Interview can describe a conversation for gathering information for an article.
The reporter had an interview with the mayor for the local news.
Interview can mean an interrogation for investigative purposes.
The detective had an interview with the witness at the station.
Interview refers to questioning someone to get their opinions or story.
The journalist conducted an interview with the celebrity.
Interview pertains to a discussion to assess someone's experiences or skills.
The college interview played a key role in her admission.
Interview is used for a meeting where a candidate is asked about their qualifications.
The interview for the scholarship was quite challenging.
Interview describes a formal interaction for data collection in research.
The study involved conducting interviews with various participants.
Interview means a meeting for evaluating a person's suitability for a role.
He was nervous about his first job interview.
Interview denotes a dialogue to ascertain a person's thoughts or feelings.
The therapist's interview helped understand the patient's perspective.
Interview involves a session where an individual's aptitude is tested.
The internship interview focused on technical skills.
Interview can refer to a broadcasted conversation with a public figure.
The actor gave an insightful interview on the talk show.
A formal meeting in person, especially one arranged for the assessment of the qualifications of an applicant.
A conversation, such as one conducted by a reporter, in which facts or statements are elicited from another.
An account or a reproduction of such a conversation.
(Informal) An interviewee
An actor who was a tough interview.
To obtain an interview from.
To have an interview
Interviewed with a publishing company.
(obsolete) An official face-to-face meeting of monarchs or other important figures.
Any face-to-face meeting, especially of an official or adversarial nature.
A conversation in person (or, by extension, over the telephone, Internet etc.) between a journalist and someone whose opinion or statements he or she wishes to record for publication, broadcast etc.
The reporter gave the witness an interview.
A formal meeting, in person, for the assessment of a candidate or applicant.
It was a dreadful interview; I have no hope of getting the job.
An audition.
A police interrogation of a suspect or party in an investigation.
(transitive) To ask questions of (somebody); to have an interview.
He interviewed the witness.
The witness was interviewed.
(intransitive) To be interviewed; to attend an interview.
A mutual sight or view; a meeting face to face; usually, a formal or official meeting for consultation; a conference; as, the secretary had an interview with the President.
A conversation, or questioning, for the purpose of eliciting information for publication; the published statement so elicited.
To have an interview with; to question or converse with, especially for the purpose of obtaining information for publication.
The questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists;
My interviews with teen-agers revealed a weakening of religious bonds
A conference (usually with someone important);
He had a consultation with the judge
He requested an audience with the king
Conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
Discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation;
We interviewed the job candidates
Go for an interview in the hope of being hired;
The job candidate interviewed everywhere
Interview Snonyms
Interrogate
Ask questions of (someone) closely, aggressively, or formally.
The detective interrogated the suspect for hours.
Examine
Inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition; investigate thoroughly.
The committee examined the proposal before making a decision.
Question
Ask someone questions, especially in an official context.
The journalist questioned the politician about the policies.
Debrief
Question (someone, typically a soldier or spy) about a completed mission or undertaking.
After the mission, the agent was debriefed by his superiors.
Audit
Conduct an official financial inspection of (a company or its accounts).
They hired an accountant to audit their financial records.
Consult
Seek information or advice from (someone, especially an expert or professional).
She consulted a lawyer for legal advice.
Converse
Engage in conversation.
He conversed with the delegates about the upcoming vote.
Probe
Physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument.
Scientists probed the ocean floor for samples.
Grill
Subject (someone) to intense questioning or interrogation.
The applicants were grilled during the job interview.
Survey
Look carefully and thoroughly at (someone or something), especially so as to appraise them.
The manager surveyed customer satisfaction through interviews.
Interview Idioms & Phrases
Bomb the interview
To perform poorly in an interview.
He felt he bombed the interview when he couldn't answer a key question.
Interview marathon
A series of interviews conducted in succession, often for a single position.
She faced an interview marathon at the corporation, meeting with six different managers.
Ace the interview
To perform exceptionally well in an interview.
She studied the company thoroughly and managed to ace the interview.
Nail the interview
To perform extremely well in an interview.
She nailed the interview with her perfect blend of experience and enthusiasm.
Sail through the interview
To easily and successfully complete an interview.
With his confident attitude, he sailed through the interview.
Dress for the interview
To wear appropriate attire for a job interview.
He made sure to dress for the interview, wearing his best suit.
The interview gauntlet
Facing a series of challenging interviews.
Graduates often run the interview gauntlet when seeking their first job.
Interview under fire
To be interviewed in a highly stressful or challenging situation.
The press interview quickly turned into an interview under fire with tough questions.
Interview jitters
Nervousness or anxiety before or during an interview.
Despite his experience, he always gets interview jitters.
Break the ice in the interview
To ease the tension or nervousness at the beginning of an interview.
She told a brief, relevant anecdote to break the ice in the interview.
Interview spotlight
The focus or attention during an interview.
She felt the interview spotlight intensely as the questions began.
Post-interview relief
The feeling of relaxation or relief after completing an interview.
She felt a wave of post-interview relief as she left the building.
Interview charm
The ability to be particularly persuasive or likeable in an interview setting.
His interview charm won over all the panel members.
The last interview
The final interview in a series, often the deciding factor in getting a job.
He was both nervous and excited about the last interview for his dream job.
Interview learning curve
The process of gaining experience and skills in handling interviews.
He quickly climbed the interview learning curve with each new meeting.
Cold call interview
An interview that occurs without prior appointment or preparation.
He was surprised by the cold call interview but managed to respond well.
Pre-interview nerves
Anxiety or nervousness felt before an interview.
Her pre-interview nerves vanished as soon as she started talking.
Mock interview practice
A practice session intended to simulate an actual job interview.
The mock interview practice really helped her prepare for the real thing.
The interview grind
The exhausting and repetitive process of attending multiple interviews.
After months of the interview grind, he finally received a job offer.
Turn the tables in the interview
To change the direction or outcome of an interview to one's advantage.
She turned the tables in the interview by confidently addressing her lack of experience and focusing on her strengths.
Interview Example Sentences
The interview for the volunteer position was informal but important.
She asked interesting questions during the interview.
She was excited to have an interview at her dream company.
Her interview for the magazine was published last week.
He was anxious about his first on-camera interview.
Her interview outfit was professional and polished.
The interview process for the school play was quite thorough.
They watched the celebrity's interview on television.
After the interview, he felt confident about getting the job.
The documentary included an interview with a famous scientist.
He practiced answering questions before his college interview.
The interview with the local author was enlightening.
The research project started with conducting several interviews.
After the interview, they gave him a tour of the office.
The interview panel asked her about her previous projects.
Common Curiosities
How is interview used in a sentence?
Example: "She was nervous about her job interview tomorrow."
Why is it called interview?
It is called "interview" because it comes from the French word "entrevue," meaning a meeting or a sight of each other. It refers to a formal meeting where questions are asked to gather information.
How many syllables are in interview?
There are three syllables in "interview."
How do we divide interview into syllables?
"Interview" is divided into syllables as in-ter-view.
What is the verb form of interview?
The verb form of "interview" is also "interview," as in to conduct an interview.
What is the first form of interview?
The first form of "interview" is "interview."
What is a stressed syllable in interview?
The second syllable, "ter," is the stressed syllable in "interview."
What is the root word of interview?
The root of "interview" is from the French word "entrevue," meaning a meeting.
What is the third form of interview?
The third form of "interview" is also "interviewed."
What is the pronunciation of interview?
Interview is pronounced as /ˈɪntərˌvjuː/.
What part of speech is interview?
"Interview" can be both a noun and a verb.
Is interview an abstract noun?
As a noun, "interview" is concrete, referring to a specific event or action.
Is interview a vowel or consonant?
"Interview" is a word, not a vowel or consonant. However, it starts with a vowel.
Is the word interview is imperative?
"Interview" can be used in the imperative form as a verb, as in giving a command or instruction.
Is the word “interview” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Interview" can serve as either a direct object or an indirect object in a sentence, depending on its use.
Is interview a noun or adjective?
"Interview" is primarily a noun but can also be used as a verb.
Is the interview term a metaphor?
"Interview" is typically used in its literal sense, but it can be used metaphorically in certain contexts.
Is the word interview Gerund?
The gerund form of "interview" is "interviewing."
Which vowel is used before interview?
The choice of vowel before "interview" depends on the preceding word in a sentence.
What is the singular form of interview?
"Interview" itself is the singular form.
What is the opposite of interview?
The opposite of "interview" as a verb could be "ignore" or "disregard."
Is interview an adverb?
No, "interview" is not an adverb.
Is interview a countable noun?
Yes, "interview" is a countable noun.
Which determiner is used with interview?
Determiners such as "the," "a," "an," "this," "that," "my," "your," etc., can be used with "interview."
Which preposition is used with interview?
Prepositions like "for," "at," "during," or "with" can be used with "interview."
Which article is used with interview?
Both "the" and "a/an" can be used with "interview" depending on whether it is being referred to in a specific or a general sense.
What is the plural form of interview?
The plural form of "interview" is "interviews."
Is interview a collective noun?
No, "interview" is not a collective noun.
Which conjunction is used with interview?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," "or," "while," etc., can be used with "interview."
What is the second form of interview?
The second form of "interview" is "interviewed."
What is another term for interview?
Another term for "interview" is "interrogation" or "meeting."
Is interview a negative or positive word?
"Interview" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
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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.
