noun

keener

Keener (noun) means a person who wails in mourning at a funeral. Example: “The keener's cry carried across the churchyard.”

noun

A person who wails in mourning at a funeral.

"The keener's cry carried across the churchyard."

Someone overeager to impress, especially at the expense of looking good in front of others (an over-keen brown-noser).

"Nobody liked the keener who always volunteered for extra homework."

How to use keener

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a professional funeral mourner, or (informally, especially in Canadian slang) someone annoyingly over-eager to please.

When to use it

The "overeager student" sense is informal and especially common in Canadian English.

Word forms

keeners plural, keeners plural, Keeners plural

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The _____'s cry carried across the churchyard.

Etymology

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Rhymes for keener

wiener opener widener Wegener Greener listener gardener softener sharpener sweetener freshener Kitchener

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Frequently asked questions

What does “keener” mean?

The word “keener” means a person who wails in mourning at a funeral. In plain terms, either a professional funeral mourner, or (informally, especially in Canadian slang) someone annoyingly over-eager to please.

How do you use “keener” in a sentence?

Here is “keener” used in a sentence: “The keener's cry carried across the churchyard.”

What part of speech is “keener”?

“Keener” is a noun.

How many meanings does “keener” have?

“Keener” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who wails in mourning at a funeral.