interview
interview
Pronunciation
Interview
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ˈɪn.tər.vjuː/
Syllable 1: /ɪn/
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
Syllable 2: /tər/ (or /tə/ in some rapid speech, followed by syllabic /r/)
/t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)
/ər/ as in "butter" (schwa + r-colored vowel)
Syllable 3: /vjuː/
/v/ as in "van" (voiced labiodental fricative)
/j/ as in "yes" (voiced palatal approximant)
/uː/ as in "moon" (long high back rounded vowel)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: interview
Plural: interviews
Verb:
Base form: interview
Past tense: interviewed
Past participle: interviewed
Present participle: interviewing
Third-person singular present: interviews
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A formal meeting, typically one at which a person seeking a job or admission is questioned to assess their suitability, or one at which a journalist questions a public figure or expert for a publication or broadcast.
Synonyms: meeting, consultation, discussion, examination, inquiry, cross-examination (in a probing sense)
Antonyms: monologue, lecture, presentation (without Q&A)
The process or act of questioning or being questioned, especially in a structured or formal setting.
Synonyms: questioning, interrogation, inquiry, assessment, review, debriefing
Antonyms: statement, declaration, testimony (without reciprocal questioning)
(Figurative) A critical examination or confrontation, often with oneself or a challenging situation, that reveals deep truths or requires a significant response.
Synonyms: reckoning, introspection, confrontation, trial, test
Antonyms: evasion, avoidance, dismissal
Verb
To question (someone) formally for a job, admission, or to elicit information for a publication or broadcast.
Synonyms: question, examine, interrogate, debrief, pump (informal), quiz, sound out
Antonyms: inform, state, present, lecture
To hold a conversation or a series of discussions with someone to assess their character, views, or suitability.
Synonyms: consult, discuss with, converse with, assess, evaluate
Antonyms: ignore, dismiss, overlook, avoid
Examples of Use
Books:
"The novel begins with a tense interview between the detective and a mysterious witness." (From a fictional mystery novel, generic example)
"In preparation for his biography, the author conducted extensive interviews with family members and former colleagues of the subject." (From a non-fiction biography, generic example)
"The book presents a series of candid interviews with leading scientists on the future of artificial intelligence." (From a collection of interviews, e.g., Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, which includes discussions)
Newspapers:
"The presidential candidate gave an exclusive interview to our newspaper, discussing his policy priorities." (From a front-page news report, generic example)
"Job seekers are advised to dress smartly for their interview and research the company thoroughly." (From a careers advice column, generic example)
"Our sports correspondent secured a rare interview with the reclusive champion after his historic win." (From a sports section, generic example)
Online Publications:
"Watch: Elon Musk's full interview on the future of X (formerly Twitter) and AI." (From a tech news website or YouTube channel, e.g., The Verge, Recode)
"The Ultimate Guide to Acing Your Virtual Job Interview." (From a career advice blog, e.g., LinkedIn Learning Blog)
"We publish weekly interviews with independent game developers, exploring their creative processes." (From a gaming news site, e.g., IndieWire Games)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The climactic scene features a chilling police interview where the suspect finally confesses." (Dialogue or plot description from a crime thriller, generic example, e.g., Zodiac)
Television Series: "Tonight, we have an exclusive interview with the lead actor of 'Dragon's Ascent' to discuss the season finale." (From a late-night talk show or entertainment news program, generic example)
Music (Song Lyrics): (Less common, but sometimes alluded to) "They wanna interview my life story, but they don't know the half of it." (From a rap or R&B song, generic example, implying scrutiny)
Video Games: "Your first task is to interview the townsfolk to gather clues about the missing artifact." (In-game objective or dialogue from a role-playing game, e.g., Disco Elysium)
Podcasts: "In this week's episode, we interview a leading expert on climate change, delving into the latest research." (From an educational or news podcast, generic example)
General Public Discourse:
"I have a job interview next Tuesday, wish me luck!" (Common personal statement)
"Did you see that fascinating interview with the author on TV last night?" (Common casual conversation)
"We need to interview a few more candidates before making a decision." (Common phrase in a hiring context)
"The police are interviewing witnesses about the incident." (Common news or everyday observation)
"I'm going to interview my grandmother about her experiences during the war for a school project." (Common personal project description)
10 Famous Quotes Using Interview
"Death will be a great relief. No more interviews." - Katharine Hepburn
"When you're interviewing someone, you're in control. When you're being interviewed, you think you're in control, but you're not." - Barbara Walters
"Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read." - Frank Zappa
"From journalism I learned to write under pressure, to work with deadlines, to have limited space and time, to conduct and interview, to find information, to research, and above all, to use language as efficiently as possible and to remember always that there is a reader out there." - Isabel Allende
"My Duke of Edinburgh interview for his 90th in June 2011 was not one of my successes." - Fiona Bruce
"There are two elements to nailing a job interview: form and substance." - Neil Blumenthal
"I sometimes find that in interviews you learn more about yourself than the person learned about you." - William Shatner
"My job in the Senate is not just to give speeches and do interviews, it's to solve problems." - Marco Rubio
"People are the undisputed experts on themselves. No one has been with them longer, or knows them better than they do themselves. In MI [Motivational Interviewing], the helper is a companion who typically does less than half of the talking." - William R. Miller (Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change)
"The best way to prepare for an interview is to know yourself and your potential." (Original quote, practical advice)
Etymology
The word "interview" has a relatively clear and interesting etymology, stemming from French and Latin roots that mean "to see between" or "to see each other."
Let's break it down:
The core comes from the Old French word "entrevue," which was a noun formed from the verb "s'entrevoir."
"S'entrevoir" means "to see each other," or "to glimpse." It's made of two parts:
"Entre-": This means "between" (similar to the English prefix "inter-," which also means "between").
"Voir": This means "to see" (and comes from the Latin word "videre," meaning "to see").
So, literally, "entrevue" was about "seeing each other" or "having a glimpse between" people.
The first known use of "interview" as a noun in English was in the early 1500s (specifically, 1514). At that time, it meant a "face-to-face meeting" or a "formal conference," often referring to meetings between important people like monarchs or diplomats. It was about a mutual seeing and discussion.
The modern journalistic sense of "a conversation to obtain statements for publication" came much later, in 1869 in American English. The sense of a "personal meeting to discuss hiring or employment" appeared even later, around 1921. However, the core idea of a meeting where people "see" and interact with each other to exchange information has remained central.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Interview
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "interview," supplemented as needed:
Job interview: A formal meeting to assess a candidate for employment.
Exit interview: A meeting with an employee leaving a company to gather feedback.
Panel interview: An interview conducted by multiple interviewers at once.
Mock interview: A practice interview to prepare for a real one.
Stress interview: An interview designed to test a candidate's reaction to stress.
To ace an interview: To perform exceptionally well in an interview.
To bomb an interview: To perform very poorly in an job interview.
Interview skills: The abilities needed to perform well in an interview.
Casting call: An audition for actors. (Similar concept to an interview for a role)
A Q&A session: A question and answer period. (Similar in nature to an interview)
To face the music: To confront the consequences of one's actions, often involving difficult questioning. (Metaphorical, implies a challenging "interview")
A grilling: An intense questioning session. (Synonymous for a tough interview)
On the hot seat: In a position of intense scrutiny or questioning. (Idiom, implies being interviewed under pressure)
Trial by fire: A severe test of one's abilities or endurance. (Metaphorical, can apply to a challenging interview)
To be put through the wringer: To be subjected to a difficult or exhaustive experience, like a tough interview. (Idiom)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of interview from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
