eager
12 synonyms and 4 antonyms for eager, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Keen and enthusiastic to do or have something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use eager
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French aigre ("sharp, keen"), from Latin acer — the same root behind "acid" and "acerbic".
Full origin of eager →Frequently asked questions
What does “eager” mean?
The word “eager” means keen and enthusiastic to do or have something. In plain terms, wanting to do something very much, often shown through visible enthusiasm.
How do you pronounce “eager”?
“Eager” is pronounced EE-guh (/ˈiɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “eager” in a sentence?
Here is “eager” used in a sentence: “The new recruits were eager to prove themselves.”
What is another word for “eager”?
Words with a similar meaning to “eager” include keen, solicitous, raring, alacritous, athirst and fain.
What is the opposite of “eager”?
The opposite of “eager” — its antonyms — are averse, disinclined, reluctant and unwilling.
What part of speech is “eager”?
“Eager” is an adjective.
Where does the word “eager” come from?
The word “eager” comes from Latin. From Old French aigre ("sharp, keen"), from Latin acer — the same root behind "acid" and "acerbic".
Is “eager” a common word?
“Eager” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between eager and anxious?
"Eager" expresses positive enthusiasm — you look forward to something with pleasure. "Anxious" literally involves worry or unease, although it is very widely used to mean eager, as in "anxious to help." Careful writers reserve "anxious" for situations tinged with nervousness and use "eager" for pure enthusiasm.
Is it "eager to" or "eager for"?
Use "eager to" before a verb: "eager to learn," "eager to please." Use "eager for" before a noun: "eager for news," "eager for change." Both constructions mean keenly wanting something; the choice depends only on what follows.
What is the difference between eager and lazy evaluation in computing?
Eager evaluation computes an expression immediately, as soon as it is encountered, while lazy evaluation defers the work until the result is actually needed. The same contrast appears in data loading: eager loading fetches related data up front, and lazy loading fetches it on demand. Each approach trades predictability against avoiding unnecessary work.