interview

1 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​view ˈin-tər-ˌvyü 

1

: a formal consultation usually to evaluate qualifications (as of a prospective student or employee)

2

a

: a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter, television commentator, or pollster) from a person

b

: a report or reproduction of information so obtained

3

: interviewee

interview

2 of 2

verb

interviewed; interviewing; interviews

1

transitive : to question or talk with (someone) to get information : to conduct an interview with (someone)

The police are interviewing several witnesses.

was interviewed on television

Several strong candidates have been interviewed for the position.

More than 60 staff members were interviewed for the project …

—Nature Conservancy

Gone are the days when a language researcher had to interview subjects in a lab …

—Katy Steinmetz

2

intransitive : to participate in an interview for a position (such as a job)

One warm morning I arrived to interview for a job as an editorial assistant on a trade journal …

—Joseph Epstein

Synonyms

Verb

• canvass
• canvas
• poll
• solicit
• survey

Examples of interview in a Sentence

Noun

The company is holding interviews for several new jobs.

a journalist conducting interviews with political leaders

The interview will be shown on tonight's news.

This library has a large collection of his interviews.

He is a very entertaining interview.

She's always been known as one of Hollywood's best interviews.

Verb

a reporter at the scene interviewing witnesses to the explosion

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Parker recorded interviews with 12 British men and women who had been convicted of murder, then transcribed and edited their words to create a series of extraordinary first-person narratives. —The Week Us, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024

In an interview on KNBR, Shanahan was positive about McCaffrey’s prospects for playing Sunday. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Verb

In the final part of the finale, Joan and Chock come out to be interviewed. —Alice Burton, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024

Since many of the men in the study haven’t been extensively interviewed, the National Geographic series does say something new, a feat, given there have been a number of films — some good, some bad — focused on the subject. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French entreveue meeting, from (s')entreveer to see one another, meet, from entre- inter- + veer to see — more at view

First Known Use

Noun

1514, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing interview

• pre-interview
• self-interview

Kids Definition

interview

noun

in·​ter·​view ˈint-ər-ˌvyü 

1

: a meeting usually face to face especially for the purpose of talking or consulting

an interview to evaluate a prospective student's qualifications

2

: a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter) from a person

also : the account of such a meeting

interview verb

interviewer noun