noun
keener
Keener (noun) means a person who wails in mourning at a funeral. Example: “The keener's cry carried across the churchyard.”
noun
1
A person who wails in mourning at a funeral.
"The keener's cry carried across the churchyard."
2
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 notesIn 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.
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Word forms
- Plural
- keeners
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____'s cry carried across the churchyard.
Etymology
See the etymology at the corresponding lemma form.
Rhymes for keener
wiener
opener
widener
Wegener
Greener
listener
gardener
softener
sharpener
sweetener
freshener
Kitchener
See all rhymes for keener →
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.
