1 uninterested | Definition of uninterested
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

uninterested

adjective
un·​in·​ter·​est·​ed | \ ˌən-ˈin-t(É™-)rÉ™-stÉ™d How to pronounce uninterested (audio) ; -ˈin-tÉ™-ËŒre-, -ˈin-ËŒtre-; -ˈin-tÉ™r-\

Definition of uninterested

: not interested : not having the mind or feelings engaged
Synonyms & Antonyms Disinterested vs. Uninterested: Usage Guide Example Sentences Learn More about uninterested

Keep scrolling for more

Disinterested vs. Uninterested: Usage Guide

Disinterested and uninterested have a tangled history. Uninterested originally meant impartial, but this sense fell into disuse during the 18th century. About the same time the original sense of disinterested also disappeared, with uninterested developing a new sense—the present meaning—to take its place. The original sense of uninterested is still out of use, but the original sense of disinterested revived in the early 20th century. The revival has since been under frequent attack as an illiteracy and a blurring or loss of a useful distinction. Actual usage shows otherwise. The "free from selfish interest" sense of disinterested is still its most frequent sense, especially in edited prose; it shows no sign of vanishing. Further, disinterested has developed an additional sense—"no longer interested"—perhaps influenced by the "deprive of" sense of the prefix dis-, that contrasts with uninterested. when I grow tired or disinterested in anything, I experience a disgust — Jack London, letter, 1914 Still, use of the "not interested" and "no longer interested" senses of disinterested will incur the disapproval of some who may not fully appreciate the history of this word or the subtleties of its present use.

Examples of uninterested in a Sentence

the teacher decided to make a career change after having to teach yet another class of uninterested teens

Recent Examples on the Web

 The investigator seemed uninterested, Sattler said. — Anchorage Daily News, "She leapt from a moving car on the Kenai Peninsula to escape her rapist. Then she waited 18 years for an arrest.," 6 Sep. 2019 The investigator seemed uninterested, Sattler said. — Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, "She Leapt From a Moving Car to Escape Her Rapist. Then, She Waited 18 Years for an Arrest.," 6 Sep. 2019 So far, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro seems uninterested in stopping it. — Felipe Araujo, The New Republic, "The Best Way to Fight Fires in the Amazon," 5 Sep. 2019 But how can remote actors like the EU make a difference, especially when regional players seem uninterested? — The Christian Science Monitor, "Mountain climbing with Spirit," 30 Aug. 2019 And worse, Miami’s defense, which had been a force all season, seemed uninterested in containing the Badgers, with several frustrated players already turning their attention to the future. — Christy Cabrera Chirinos, sun-sentinel.com, "After coaching change, roster overhaul and busy offseason, Hurricanes confident they’re a better team than a season ago," 21 Aug. 2019 Some also thought a few royal family members looked uninterested during his speech at tonight's state dinner. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Most Savage Tweets About Donald Trump's Day with the Royals During His U.K. State Visit," 3 June 2019 In the shot, the little tot can be seen posing with her arms crossed and her back against a wall — looking completely uninterested in the fish tank beside her. — Robyn Merrett, PEOPLE.com, "Kylie Jenner Shares Sweet Photo of Stormi 'Looking Too Cool for Me' at Aquarium," 31 July 2019 Polls show that non-voters—both people uninterested in voting and those blocked by legal or economic hurdles—mainly belong to groups that tend to back Democrats. — The Economist, "If everyone had voted, Hillary Clinton would probably be president," 5 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'uninterested.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of uninterested

1661, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for uninterested

uninterested

adjective
How to pronounce uninterested (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of uninterested

: not wanting to learn more about something or become involved in something : not interested

See the full definition for uninterested in the English Language Learners Dictionary

uninterested

adjective
un·​in·​ter·​est·​ed | \ ˌən-ˈin-trÉ™-stÉ™d, -ˈin-tÉ™-rÉ™-\

Kids Definition of uninterested

: not interested He was uninterested in watching the parade.

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on uninterested

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for uninterested

Spanish Central: Translation of uninterested

Nglish: Translation of uninterested for Spanish Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!