Definition of AVIDNESS

Choose the Right Synonym for avid

eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest. eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint. eager to get started avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed. avid for new thrills keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action. keen on the latest fashions anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment. anxious not to make a social blunder athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action. athirst for adventure

The Finer Points of Avid

The original and now relatively unfamiliar sense of avid, “desirous to the point of greed,” developed logically from its root in Latin, avēre (meaning “to long for”). It appears in such phrases as “avid of fame” and “avid for details,” expressions we are more likely to encounter in formal writing than in speech. More common today is the word’s somewhat weakened and ameliorated (that is, “made better,” or given a more positive connotation) meaning “extremely enthusiastic.” This is the sense regularly used of people who have embraced some hobby or pursuit (such as avid readers, gardeners, or knitters).

Examples of avid in a Sentence

He is an avid admirer of horror movies. They took an avid interest in politics. some of the newspaper's most avid readers

Recent Examples on the Web

David was an avid golfer, UConn basketball fan and a muscle car enthusiast. — courant.com, "David L. Cole," 14 July 2019 Curry, an avid golfer, raised the event’s profile and acquitted himself well on the course despite missing the cut in both of his starts. — Ron Kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "Golf tourney in which Stephen Curry played won’t return to Bay Area in ’20," 13 July 2019 The avid golfer shot a hole-in-one during an October 1996 golf tournament at the Oaks North golf course and after moving to RB joined two dance groups. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, "Rancho Bernardo centenarian experienced many adventures," 27 June 2019 Alfred Pope - the founder of the Hill-Stead along with Theodate Pope, his daughter and the home's architect - was an avid golfer. — Michael Walsh, Courant Community, "Hill-Stead Focusing On Its Connection To Golf Through New Exhibit," 26 June 2018 An avid golfer, Mr. Scott was a longtime member of Huntingdon Valley Country Club and Pine Valley Golf Club. — Bonnie L. Cook, Philly.com, "James W. Scott, 83, Navy veteran and insurance executive," 14 June 2018 The encounter is alleged to have occurred more than a decade ago when Cardenas, an avid golfer and advocate for a youth golf program, was a Los Angeles city councilman. — David Zahniser, latimes.com, "California Rep. Tony Cardenas denies uncorroborated allegations of molesting teenage girl," 3 May 2018 Cardenas, an avid golfer who represents much of the San Fernando Valley in Congress, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2013. — Maeve Reston, CNN, "Democratic Rep. Tony Cardenas denies allegation he sexually assaulted 16-year-old girl in 2007," 3 May 2018 From a multitude of athletic interests as a youth, San Marcos resident Josh Pollard became an avid golfer and snowboarder. — Glae Thien, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Dual benefits of paddle skateboard," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'avid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.