Definition of EAGERNESS

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

Now Republicans are gazing westward, eager to shift the balance of a prominent federal appellate court long known for its liberal rulings. — Brent Kendall, WSJ, "Republicans Look West to Shift Balance of Power on Liberal Appeals Court," 3 Apr. 2019 This crew has already done one (albeit smaller) job today and is eager to go home. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "America's New Energy Coast," 19 Mar. 2019 In the video clip, Meghan can be seen running over to meet the two girls, and is clearly eager to greet everyone who's made the effort to step out for the royals. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Stuns in a Bespoke Dior Gown at Evening Reception in Morocco," 24 Feb. 2019 An impressive panel of feminists including Marléne Schiappa, Asa Charlotte Regnér, Barbra Katz, Sue Allchurch, and Jessica Neuwirth welcomed this year's class of eager mentees in the scenic setting. — Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, "Dior Celebrates the Newest Members of Its Women@Dior Program," 16 Mar. 2019 Stock markets are brimming with financial companies eager to be valued like high-growth tech stocks. — Mike Bird, WSJ, "China’s Insurance Giant Thinks It’s a Tech Company. Maybe It Is.," 13 Mar. 2019 Year after year, eager children rush to their baskets to see what kinds of treats, chocolates, and other special fillers the furry mythical creature left behind for them. — Jenae Sitzes, Country Living, "The Easter Bunny Origin Story: Where Did The Easter Bunny Actually Come From?," 8 Mar. 2019 According to the Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English, in a conversation with Simon Weston CBE, a Falklands War Army veteran, Harry made the most perfect comment which will have royal fans eager for more Sussex children. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Harry Just Joked About Having More Babies with Meghan Markle," 5 Mar. 2019 Investors will be eager for updates on its store traffic when the company reports on Feb. 26. — Jessica Menton, WSJ, "Earnings Season to Offer Next Test for Retail Stocks," 15 Feb. 2019

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.