Keen meaning

kēn
The definition of keen is something sharp or intense.

An example of keen is a sharp knife.

An example of keen is a witty sense of humor.

adjective
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Sharp or cutting in force; piercing.

A keen appetite, a keen wind.

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A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
noun
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Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point.
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Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity.
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Acutely sensitive.

A keen ear.

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Sharp; vivid; strong.
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Intense or bracing.

A keen wind.

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Pungent; acrid.

A keen smell of skunk was left behind.

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Great; splendid; fine.

What a keen day!

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Ardent; enthusiastic.

A keen chess player.

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Eagerly desirous.

Keen on going to Europe in the spring.

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A loud wailing or lament for the dead.
noun
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To wail in lamentation, especially for the dead.
verb
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Having a sharp edge or point; that can cut well.

A keen knife, a keen edge.

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Sharp and quick in seeing, hearing, thinking, etc.; acute.

Keen eyes, a keen intelligence.

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Sharp-witted; mentally acute; shrewd.
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Eager; enthusiastic; much interested.
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Strongly felt or perceived; intense; strong.

Keen desire, a keen scent.

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Good, fine, etc.
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A wailing for the dead; dirge.
noun
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To utter in a wailing tone.
verb
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Showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense.
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Vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
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Sharp; having a fine edge or point.
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Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness.
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Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
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Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc,; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
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(often with "to" + infinitive or with a prepositional phrase) Enthusiastic.

I'm keen to learn another language.

I'm keen on learning another language.

I'm keen on languages.

I'm keen about learning languages.

I'm keen for help.

"Do you want to learn another language?" / "I'm keen."

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(US, informal, dated) Marvelous.

I just got this peachy keen new dress.

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(UK) Extremely low as to be competitive.

Keen prices.

adjective
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(rare) To sharpen; to make cold.
verb
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(intransitive) To utter a keen.
verb
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To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
verb
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To mourn.
verb
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To lament or wail for the dead.
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To make a wailing, shrill, or mournful sound suggestive of a keen.
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Origin of keen

From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful, learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skillful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenə-, *ǵnō- (“to know”). Cognate with Scots keen (“lively, brisk, avaricious”), Dutch koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.

Sentence Examples

  • He continued to take a keen interest in art and science.

  • He wasn't too keen on the idea when she first told him about it.

  • She kept a keen eye out for the same kind of weed and was surprised at how much they found.

  • He was a fine horseman and keen hunter.

  • New friends gathered round him who took a keen interest in his researches.

More sentences →

Words near keen in the Dictionary