interview — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An official face-to-face meeting of monarchs or other important figures.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Synonyms

   audience

   Examples

   To be present at an interview, as that famous of Henry the Eighth and Francis the First, so much renowned all over Europe[…], no age ever saw the like.

2. Any face-to-face meeting, especially of an official or adversarial nature.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   (Aaron Burr narrating): It was at about this time that I learned exactly what it was that Hamilton had said of me, and knew that this world was far too narrow a place to contain the two of us. Hamilton's friend made one further attempt to get him off the hook but only further impaled the slanderer by remarking that should Colonel Burr wish to enquire of any other conversation of Hamilton concerning Burr, a prompt and frank avowal or denial would be given. This was too much. I told Van Ness to set a time and place for an interview [referring to a duel with pistols].

3. 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.

   Examples

   The reporter gave the witness an interview.

   He has a job interview on Saturday.

4. A formal meeting, in person, for the assessment of a candidate or applicant.

   Examples

   It was a dreadful interview; I have no hope of getting the job.

5. An audition.

6. A police interrogation of a suspect or party in an investigation.

Verb

1. To ask questions of (somebody); to have an interview.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   He interviewed the witness.

   A very famous journalist interviewed him.

   More examples (2)

   The witness was interviewed.

   Professor Solanka paused and turned to face the lounging goddess of the threshold, who proceeded, unnervingly, to interview him.

2. To be interviewed; to attend an interview.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   She always interviews well.

   When she interviewed with Microsoft in August, she overlooked a small cut in salary and asked about long-term career opportunities — and quality of life.

Noun

1. the questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists

   Broader terms

   interrogationexaminationinterrogatory

   Examples

   my interviews with teenagers revealed a weakening of religious bonds

2. a conference (usually with someone important)

   Synonyms

   consultationaudience

   Broader terms

   conferencegroup discussion

   Examples

   he had a consultation with the judge

   he requested an audience with the king

Verb

1. conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

   Synonyms

   question

   Broader terms

   conversediscourse

2. discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation

   Broader terms

   conversediscourse

   Examples

   We interviewed the job candidates

3. go for an interview in the hope of being hired

   Broader terms

   conversediscourse

   Examples

   The job candidate interviewed everywhere