keen
keen
Keen (adj) means Eager and enthusiastic about something. Example: “The children were keen to see the baby animals at the farm.”
adj
1
Eager and enthusiastic about something.
"The children were keen to see the baby animals at the farm."
"She was keen to start the new job straight away."
"He's always keen for a game of football at lunchtime."
2
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."
"He has a keen eye for detail."
"The knife had a keen blade after sharpening."
3
Of cold, wind, or pain: cutting and intense.
"We pulled our scarves tight against the keen frost of the morning."
"She felt a keen pain in her knee when she knelt."
"A keen wind cut across the moor."
verb
1
To wail or cry out in mourning for the dead.
"At the funeral, the old woman keened softly beside the coffin."
"Neighbours could hear her keening long after the other mourners had left."
"The women keened over the grave through the night."
How to use keen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEager and enthusiastic, or sharp (in edge, mind, or sensation) — a separate, older sense means to wail in mourning.
UK vs US
"Keen" meaning eager is far more common in British English; American English tends to say "eager" or "into it" instead.
Common pairings
keen interest
keen sense
keen to
keen on
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Word forms
- Plural
- keens
- Third person singular
- keens
- Past tense
- keened
- Comparative
- keener, more keen
- Superlative
- keenest, most keen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children were _____ to see the baby animals at the farm.
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".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for keen
See all rhymes for 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.
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