keen¹ Definition
keen (kēn)
adjective
- having a sharp edge or point; that can cut well a keen knife, a keen edge
- sharp or cutting in force; piercing a keen appetite, a keen wind
- sharp and quick in seeing, hearing, thinking, etc.; acute keen eyes, a keen intelligence
- sharp-witted; mentally acute; shrewd
- eager; enthusiastic; much interested: often with about, on, etc.
- strongly felt or perceived; intense; strong keen desire, a keen scent
- ☆ Slang good, fine, etc.: a generalized term of approval
Etymology: ME kene < OE cene, wise, learned, akin to Ger kühn, bold < IE base *ĝen-, to know: the principal senses spring from the basic notion “capable”
keen¹ Related Forms
keen² Definition
keen (kēn)
noun
Irish a wailing for the dead; dirge
Etymology: Ir caoine < caoinim, I wail
intransitive verb
- Irish to lament or wail for the dead
- to make a wailing, shrill, or mournful sound suggestive of a keen
transitive verb
to utter in a wailing tone
keen Synonyms
keen
modif.
Sharp
Astute
bright, clever, shrewd; see clever 1, intelligent 1, judicious.Intense
Eager
ardent, interested, intent; see enthusiastic 1, 2.Sensitive
perceptive, penetrating, sharp; see observant 1. See syn. study at eager, sharp.
keen Usage Examples
Preposition: on
idea: And I've begun work in earnest on a new picture book, since my editor was so keen on the idea last week.
Preposition: as
mustard: We feed him once a day, and not too much then, so that he is always as keen as mustard.
Modifies a noun
- gardener: I'm a keen gardener; how will the trees affect me?
- sportsman: Chris Chris, a keen sportsman, collided with a tree whilst snow boarding.
- golfer: He gained Blues for Cricket and Hockey at Cambridge and remains a keen golfer and squash player.
- walker: Keen walkers may wish to take the 5 mile walk along the Coast to Branscombe taking in views from Start Point to Portland.
- supporter: Beverley and East Riding is a keen supporter of the LTA campaign Play Tennis 2006.
- cyclist: A keen cyclist herself, Councilor Parker continued: " Cycling is often the quickest way to get around.
Modifying Another Word
- particularly: At present we are particularly keen to hear from any keyboard player who could help us with the children's singing.
- especially: Tony Hams: We are especially keen to engage more effectively with young people.
- very: The second supplier was very keen to do the job.
- overly: The overly keen that said yes were dropped from our list!
Infinitive complement
- hear: We were also keen to hear how people where keeping their bins clean.
- recruit: HATII is keen to recruit research students from within or outwith the university for PhD study.
- encourage: Graham was very keen to encourage songwriters to write more indigenous Romanian worship songs.
- emphasize: The State Department was keen to emphasize that the visits were unofficial.
- promote: The forum is keen to promote the positive advantages identified by people on the ground.
- ensure: They were certainly keen to ensure justice was seen to be done.
Used with adjective complement
Browse dictionary entries near keen
- ‹ Keelung
- ‹ keelson
- ‹ Keeling Islands
- ‹ keelhaul
- ‹ keelboat
- ‹ keel over
- ‹ keel
- ‹ keek
- ‹ keef
- ‹ Kedron
- keen-sighted ›
- keenly ›
- keenness ›
- keep ›
- keep after ›
- keep alive bits ›
- keep an appointment ›
- keep at ›
- keep away ›
- keep back ›

