Definition of keen
1a : intellectually alert : having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind a keen student a keen awareness of the problem; also : shrewdly astute a keen assessmentb : extremely sensitive in perception keen eyes a keen sense of smellc : sharply contested keen competition keen debate
2a (1) : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic a keen swimmer (2) : eager was keen to beginb of emotion or feeling : intense the keen delight in the chase — F. W. Maitland
4a : having a fine edge or point : sharp a knife with a keen bladeb : affecting one as if by cutting keen sarcasmc : pungent to the sense a keen scent
keenly
adverbkeen on
: very enthusiastic or excited about wasn't keen on going
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of keen in a Sentence
When you've been trying to remember something and you suddenly remember it, the mental pleasure is keen. —Ian Frazier, Atlantic, October 2004
Indeed, tobacco processors were keen to promote variety even further by saturating and mixing the cut and spun leaf with a miscellany of spices … —Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
But Mary wasn't keen on braving the Athens streets alone so Magnus went instead; Mary would do a museum in the morning. —John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986
That he took a keen interest in scientific navigation is indicated by his keeping a daybook or journal (which has not survived), and by making an honest effort to determine longitude. —Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971
The keen clear wind swept in on his left cheek, and as he bore on the helm so the Sophie answered, quicker and more nervous than he had expected. —Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander, 1970
Planting himself squarely before the two tall cowboys who were standing, he looked straight into their lean, bronzed faces. He spared a full moment for that keen cool gaze before he spoke. —Zane Grey, Desert Gold, 1913
She's a very keen observer of the political world.
pilots with especially keen eyesight
Recent Examples of keen from the Web
-
As more than one keen observer has noted, exactly one state falls into this category.
-
Strong points: Sworn so far seems keen to take its time with cases.
-
Cohn—possessed of a keen intellect, unlike Trump—could keep a jury spellbound.
-
The year before, Walmart had tried to buy the mall and turn it into a supercenter, but residents were not keen on the idea and the City Council scuttled the plan with zoning requirements that made big-box retail impossible.
-
The league has had a couple ugly brawls this year and is not keen on more bad blood that lingers and possibly gets players hurt.
-
Megan Medeiros Executive Director Committee for Green Foothills San Jose San Jose’s Mayor Sam Liccardo is keen to reshape downtown San Jose’s skyline in tune with the demands of city’s fast growing international airport.(Page 1A, June 14).
-
The two met on a misunderstanding: A mutual friend told Givenchy that Miss Hepburn was keen to meet him, and the couturier assumed the gamine in question was Katharine.
-
Ms. Keiley is not keen on having that resemblance, which is intentional, brought up.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'keen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of keen
Middle English kene brave, sharp, from Old English cēne brave; akin to Old High German kuoni brave
Synonym Discussion of keen
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
keen
Definition of keen
intransitive verb
1a : to make a loud and long cry of sorrow : to lament with a keenb : to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow a keening siren
2 : to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
transitive verb
: to utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry keened our sorrow — Punch
keener
nounExamples of keen in a Sentence
the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city
Recent Examples of keen from the Web
-
But with trade unions keen to defend their members and the government preoccupied with potential unrest within the ruling coalition, the unwinding of the labor pact is not beyond the realm of possibility.
-
Unlike beams of tinnitus, these keening, distortionlike sounds were a sign of healthy ears.
-
One hears keening string parts, startling brass outbursts, otherworldly writing for piano, cimbalom, cellos and double basses.
-
Wynn Rutberg was 3-years old when she was first charmed by the keening wail of a fiddle during a visit to the National Western Stock Show’s Colorado Fiddle Championship.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'keen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of keen
Irish caoinim I lament, weep
keen
Definition of keen
: a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry
Examples of keen in a Sentence
mourners keening at a funeral
victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid
Recent Examples of keen from the Web
-
Well, that's a little more adventure than my Keens have seen.
-
His voice has the South in it, and the hysterical keen of a chainsaw.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'keen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of keen
see 1keen
KEEN Defined for English Language Learners
keen
playDefinition of keen for English Language Learners
-
: having or showing an ability to think clearly and to understand what is not obvious or simple about something
-
: very strong and sensitive : highly developed
-
: very excited about and interested in something
keen
Definition of keen for English Language Learners
-
: to make a loud and long cry of sorrow
KEEN Defined for Kids
keen
playDefinition of keen for Students
keener
;keenest
1 : having a fine edge or point : sharp a keen knife
2 : having or showing mental sharpness a keen observation
3 : very sensitive (as in seeing, smelling, or hearing) keen eyesight
4 : full of enthusiasm : eager … everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened … — J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire
5 : seeming to cut or sting a keen wind
keenly
adverbkeenness
nounLearn More about keen
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for keen Spanish Central: Translation of keen Nglish: Translation of keen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of keen for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up keen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!