keen

13 synonyms and 1 antonym for keen, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Eager and enthusiastic about something.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

sharp cutting

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

eager enthusiastic avid acute bully cracking penetrating

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

astute corking shrewd lament

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Eager and enthusiastic about something.

“The children were keen to see the baby animals at the farm.”

eager enthusiastic avid sharp acute astute bully cutting cracking corking penetrating shrewd

2. adj

Sharp, whether literally (an edge or point) or mentally (a sharp mind or sharp senses).

“The old detective was known for his keen mind and sharp memory.”

Opposites

dull

3. verb

To wail or cry out in mourning for the dead.

“At the funeral, the old woman keened softly beside the coffin.”

lament

How to use keen

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

keen interest keen sense keen to keen on

Etymology

From Old English cēne ("bold, sharp, wise"), a Germanic word related to German kühn ("bold") and, further back, to the root of "cunning" and "can".

Full origin of keen →

Frequently asked questions

What does “keen” mean?

The word “keen” means eager and enthusiastic about something. In plain terms, eager and enthusiastic, or sharp (in edge, mind, or sensation) — a separate, older sense means to wail in mourning.

How do you pronounce “keen”?

“Keen” is pronounced keen (/kin/ in IPA).

How do you use “keen” in a sentence?

Here is “keen” used in a sentence: “She was keen to start the new job straight away.”

What is another word for “keen”?

Words with a similar meaning to “keen” include penetrating and shrewd.

What part of speech is “keen”?

Depending on how it is used, “keen” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “keen” come from?

The word “keen” comes from Old English. From Old English cēne ("bold, sharp, wise"), a Germanic word related to German kühn ("bold") and, further back, to the root of "cunning" and "can".

Is “keen” a common word?

“Keen” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “keen” have?

“Keen” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: eager and enthusiastic about something.

What is the difference between "keen" and "eager"?

Both mean showing strong interest, but "keen" is especially common in British English and can also mean sharp or perceptive, while "eager" focuses purely on impatient enthusiasm to do something.

Is "keen" more common in British or American English?

In the sense of "eager," "keen" is much more common in British English, where "I'm keen to help" sounds natural. American speakers more often say "eager" or "excited," though the "sharp" senses of keen are used in both.

People also searched

cutting sharp acute eager dull cracking enthusiastic bully avid penetrating lament astute

Nearby words

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