Interview

ˈɪntərvjuː

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonLiterature
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A meeting of people face to face, especially for consultation or to obtain information.

ˈɪntərvjuː

nounneutralBeginner
Literature

A formal meeting, usually between one or more people, to evaluate someone (as a job candidate)

I have an interview for a new job next week.

💡 Simply: An interview is like a special chat where someone asks you questions to find out more about you, like for a job or a story.

👶 For kids: An interview is when someone asks you questions to learn about you.

More Examples

2

The interview was conducted by a panel of experts.

3

She gave an interview about her latest book.

How It's Used

Business

"The job interview went well, and I'm optimistic about getting the position."

Journalism

"The journalist conducted an interview with the CEO."

2

To question (someone) formally or thoroughly in order to obtain information.

ˈɪntərvjuː

verbneutralBeginner
Academic

To question someone for an interview.

The journalist interviewed the witness about the crime.

💡 Simply: To interview is when you ask someone questions to get information or to learn about them, like asking a friend about their day.

👶 For kids: To interview means to ask someone questions.

More Examples

2

The company will interview potential candidates.

3

We plan to interview several experts on the subject.

How It's Used

Journalism

"The reporter interviewed the eyewitness."

Human Resources

"The hiring manager will interview all the candidates."

Tip:Visualize the action of someone asking questions - the act of 'interviewing'.

Idioms & expressions

exit interview

An interview conducted with an employee who is leaving a company.

"The HR department conducts an exit interview to learn about the employee's experience."

job interview

An interview conducted to assess a candidate for a job position.

"I have a job interview scheduled for tomorrow morning."

From Middle French entrevue, meaning 'a meeting', from entrevoir 'to see one another'. Ultimately from Latin inter 'between' and videre 'to see'.

The word 'interview' became widely adopted during the 19th century, initially associated with journalistic practices.

Memory tip

Think of an 'inter' (between) 'view' of people to understand a person.

Word Origin

LanguageFrench
Original meaning

"to see one another, meet"

job interviewexit interviewconduct an interviewgive an interviewattend an interview

Common misspellings

interveiwintervewinterveiw

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written