WordGarden.iointerior
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪntˈiərɪə/
US
- /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
Meanings
Noun
the inside part of something, especially a building, room, or vehicle
the inland or central part of a country or region
in mathematics, the set of points lying inside a set rather than on its boundary
Adjective
located inside or on the inner side of something
relating to the design or decoration of indoor spaces
relating to domestic affairs within a country
Beyond the definition
Think of a house, a car, or a room: the interior is the part on the inside. It often means the space within something, along with the walls, seats, furniture, or other parts you find there. A warm interior can make a place feel comfortable, and a quick look at a machine's interior can show how it is built.
The word can also move beyond physical things. Writers may talk about a person's "interior life" to mean their private thoughts and feelings. You can also hear it in geography, where the interior of a country means the land farther away from the coast. In each case, the idea is the same: what is inside, not outside.
The word interior most often refers to the inside part of something, especially a room, building, vehicle, or other enclosed space. When you step into an apartment, a train, or a church, the walls, floor, ceiling, furniture, and overall look are all part of the interior. For example: "She redesigned the interior of her apartment to make it feel brighter and calmer."
It can also refer to what is inside an object or system. A mechanic may inspect the interior of an engine, or a technician may open a device to check its interior parts. In this sense, the word points to the area or structure within the outer shell.
In writing and discussion about people, interior sometimes describes a person's private inner life. An author might explore a character's interior world, meaning their thoughts, feelings, fears, and wishes rather than just their outward actions. This use is less common in everyday speech, but it is important in literature and psychology.
The word is also used for places on land. The interior of a country or continent means the areas farther from the coast, deeper inland. For example: "After weeks by the shore, they traveled into the dry interior." Here, the idea is still the same: moving away from the outer edge and farther inside.
Overall, interior is a flexible word for what is within. It can describe the inside of a room, the internal parts of an object, the private life of a person, or the inland part of a region. In every case, it draws attention to what lies inside rather than outside.
Examples
- 1
Home contrast
The house looks plain from the street, but the interior is bright and modern.
- 2
Walls
We painted the interior walls white to make the rooms feel larger.
- 3
Car interior
The car's interior is quiet, with comfortable seats and a simple dashboard.
- 4
Interior design
She hired an interior designer to help choose the lighting and furniture.
- Phraseinterior designer
someone who plans the look and layout of rooms
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Building damage
The fire damaged the exterior of the building, but the interior stayed mostly safe.
- 6
Inland regions
Many small towns in the country's interior depend on farming.
- 7
Film technique
The film uses an interior monologue, so we hear the character's private thoughts.
- Domain
in film and literature, an interior monologue presents a character's private thoughts as if we can hear them
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- interiornounadjective
Forms
- interiorspluralnounadjective