Engage vs. Interest — What's the Difference?

Occupy or attract (someone's interest or attention)

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.

Participate or become involved in

A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something

Arrange to employ or hire (someone)

Something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state

(with reference to a part of a machine or engine) move into position so as to come into operation

Often interests Regard for one's own benefit or advantage; self-interest

(of fencers or swordsmen) bring (weapons) together preparatory to fighting.

A right, claim, or legal share

(of a writer or artist) committed to a particular aim or cause.

Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held

Actively committed, as to a political cause.

A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share

To obtain or contract for the services of; employ

Involvement with or participation in something

To arrange for the use of; reserve

A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.

(transitive) To interact socially.

An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.

To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied.

An interest group.

To draw into conversation.

The particular cause supported by an interest group.

To attract, to please; (archaic) to fascinate or win over (someone).

To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of

To interact antagonistically.

To cause to become involved or concerned with

(transitive) To enter into conflict with (an enemy).

(Archaic) To concern or affect.

(intransitive) To enter into battle.

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.

To interact contractually.

Any excess over and above an exact equivalent

(transitive) To arrange to employ or use (a worker, a space, etc.).

(uncountable) A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.

(intransitive) To guarantee or promise (to do something).

(uncountable) Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.

(transitive) To bind through legal or moral obligation (to do something, especially to marry) usually in passive.

(countable) An involvement, claim, right, share, stake in or link with a financial, business, or other undertaking or endeavor.

To pledge, pawn (one's property); to put (something) at risk or on the line; to mortgage (houses, land).

(countable) Something or someone one is interested in.

To interact mechanically.

(uncountable) Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance.

To mesh or interlock (of machinery, especially a clutch).

Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.

To come into gear with.

The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.

(intransitive) To enter into (an activity), to participate (construed with in).

To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.

To entangle.

To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.

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.

(obsolete) To cause or permit to share.

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.

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 gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.

To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; - often used impersonally.

To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.

To cause or permit to share.

To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.

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.

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.

Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.

To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.

Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.

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.

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.

To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.

Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.

To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.

The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.

Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;

A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something;

Engage or engross wholly;

The power of attracting or holding one's interest (because it is unusual or exciting etc.);

Engage or hire for work;

A reason for wanting something done;

Ask to represent; of legal counsel;

A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed;

Give to in marriage

A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly);

Get caught;

(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something;

As of wars, battles, or campaigns;

(usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims;

As of aid, help, services, or support

Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of

Engage for service under a term of contract;

Be on the mind of;

Keep engaged;

Be of importance or consequence;