eager

adjective

ea·ger | \ ˈē-gər

Definition of eager

1 : marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest

2a archaic : sharp

b obsolete : sour

Other Words from eager Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about eager

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for eager

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

eager, anxious, and keen mean having or showing a strong desire or interest. eager is used when there is much enthusiasm and often impatience. Eager travelers waited for their train. anxious is used when there is fear of failure or disappointment. I was anxious to learn who won. keen is used when there is great interest and readiness to act. The new scouts are keen to learn.

Examples of eager in a Sentence

… wine connoisseurs eager to visit cellars and late-fall pilgrims seeking the increasingly rare white truffle … — Corby Kummer, Atlantic, August 2000 … so many religions were steeped in an absolutist frame of mind—each convinced that it alone had a monopoly on the truth and therefore eager for the state to impose this truth on others. — Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996 She was eager to get started. The crowd was eager for more.

Recent Examples on the Web

But then, to many eager followers' delight, the entire group of initial offerings was revealed on Saturday evening. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Kylie Skin’s First Products Have Been Revealed, and They’re Surprisingly Affordable," 12 May 2019 Jack Brooksbank turns 33 years old today—and Princess Eugenie and her family are eager to celebrate. The princess posted a candid selfie of the two of them to commemorate the occasion. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew Wish Jack Brooksbank a Happy Birthday," 3 May 2019 Microsoft seems eager to repeat the success of games that can be played on multiple platforms, including the smash hit, Fortnite, as well as PUBG and Microsoft’s own success story, Minecraft. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft ports Xbox Live to Android, iOS to extend the reach of Xbox," 14 Mar. 2019 Luke echoed what Lionel said, and also seemed eager to have Bobby officially join the AI team. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "What the 'American Idol' Judges Really Think About Bobby Bones Being a Mentor," 19 Feb. 2019 The new season, which will continue past the events of Liane Moriarty's 2014 novel, brings Meryl Streep into the fold as Perry Wright's mother, eager to uncover what really happened to her son. — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, "Big Little Lies Season 2 Brings Back Our Favorites Ladies—and Great Decor," 16 Apr. 2019 Bergamo Rossi was astonished at how fast the tickets sold out to Venetians eager to see this hidden jewel in their midst. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "Peter Marino and the Venetian Heritage Hosted a Gilded Dinner to Celebrate All Things Venice," 10 Apr. 2019 There's something about this time of the year that makes people eager to start pruning. — Leah Zerbe, Good Housekeeping, "Why You Should Stop Pruning Your Garden in the Fall," 8 Aug. 2018 Over the course of their 16-day tour of the Oceania region, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have met thousands of fans, all eager to give their well-wishes to the royal couple and to congratulate them on their baby news. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince Harry Comforts Six-Year-Old Boy in New Zealand Who Lost His Mother," 30 Oct. 2018

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