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interview

American  
[in-ter-vyoo] / ˈɪn tərˌvyu /

noun

  1. a formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or evaluate another person.

    a job interview.

  2. a meeting or conversation in which a writer or reporter asks questions of one or more persons from whom material is sought for a newspaper story, television broadcast, etc.

  3. the report of such a conversation or meeting.


verb (used with object)

interviews, present (3rd person singular) interviewed, past participle, past interviewing present participle
  1. to have an interview with in order to question, consult, or evaluate.

    to interview a job applicant;

    to interview the president.

verb (used without object)

interviews, present (3rd person singular) interviewed, past participle, past interviewing present participle
  1. to have an interview; be interviewed (sometimes followed bywith ).

    She interviewed with eight companies before accepting a job.

  2. to give or conduct an interview.

    to interview to fill job openings.

interview British  
/ ˈɪntəˌvjuː /

noun

  1. a conversation with or questioning of a person, usually conducted for television, radio, or a newspaper

  2. a formal discussion, esp one in which an employer assesses an applicant for a job

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to conduct an interview with (someone)

  2. (intr) to be interviewed, esp for a job

    he interviewed well and was given the position

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of interview

First recorded in 1505–15; inter- + view; replacing enterview, from Middle French entrevue, noun use of feminine of entrevu “glimpsed,” past participle of entrevoir “to glimpse,” from entre “between” + voir “to see”

Explanation

Interview can be a verb or a noun, but whatever form it takes, it involves a formal meeting and asking or answering questions. When you go to a job interview, be prepared to answer questions about your strengths and weaknesses. The noun form of interview refers to a question-and-answer session. You’ve probably seen a TV interview with a famous person, or you may have gone to an interview with a college admissions director. The verb form of the word describes the act of asking the questions. You might interview a local politician for your school paper. Often an interview involves some kind of evaluation, so speak carefully if someone is interviewing you, especially if it's going to be published!

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Vocabulary lists containing interview

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“People can go look at a lunar hotel but there’s no revenue, there’s no path to revenue,” Asparouhov said in a recent interview.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

“I also look back to that interview in 2018 where I comment that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

"We have to grow higher to become a rich country by 2045," he said in an interview.

From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026

He told Douyin in a 2024 interview that he understood some of their pain because he too had a difficult childhood.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

The reporter got what he hoped for—a rambling, scandalous interview.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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