eager

ea·ger | \ ˈē-gər

How to pronounce eager (audio)

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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

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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

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 The coronavirus pandemic has left them wondering how cancelled Fourth of July celebrations — and a surge of new customers eager to replace public events with smaller private ones — will affect profits. — Agya K. Aning, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "This is how some of the largest fireworks businesses in Wisconsin will adjust to a summer of canceled Fourth of July celebrations.," 29 May 2020 The post-conviction unit has found an eager partner in Boudin, who served in the public defender’s office and vowed during his campaign to combat mass incarceration. — Megan Cassidy, SFChronicle.com, "SF public defender unit helps Oakland man go free after 44 years in prison, more than 30 in solitary," 29 May 2020 The windows and fences, usually lined with eager zoo goers, are vacant. — oregonlive, "Amid coronavirus closure and layoffs, Oregon Zoo anxiously awaits reopening," 28 May 2020 May has been an exciting month for fans eager to get back to their favorite theme parks. — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, "Disney World Announces Plan to Reopen on July 11," 27 May 2020 The Aggies will begin voluntary workouts June 8 per the latest Southeastern Conference directive, and Fisher is eager to get things shaking again around the Bright Football Complex. — Brent Zwerneman, ExpressNews.com, "RB, OL highlight Texas A&M’s recruiting needs for 2021," 26 May 2020 And there would surely be other developers bringing their own plans and tax requests, and more newcomers arriving in the neighborhood, eager to transform it. — John Carlisle, Freep.com, "Detroit neighborhood group sees gentrification as the enemy," 24 May 2020 As a Bass Pro/Cabela’s pro, Bashore has been seen in several retail locations sharing his vast knowledge with eager listeners. — Brian Bashore, Outdoor Life, "10 Best Ways to Catch More and Bigger Walleyes," 19 May 2020 My words are on television and in stadiums that hold thousands of eager listeners. — TheWeek, "Secret life of an anonymous speechwriter to the stars," 17 May 2020

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.

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Learn More about eager

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Last Updated

1 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Eager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eager. Accessed 4 Jun. 2020.

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More Definitions for eager

eager

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of eager

: very excited and interested : feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something or for something

See the full definition for eager in the English Language Learners Dictionary

eager

ea·ger | \ ˈē-gər

\

Kids Definition of eager

: very excited and interested … bright eager eyes were looking up into hers …— Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Choose the Right Synonym for eager

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.

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