keen

adjective

\ ˈkēn

Definition of keen

(Entry 1 of 3)

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 assessment

b : extremely sensitive in perception keen eyes a keen sense of smell

c : sharply contested keen competition keen debate

2a(1) : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic a keen swimmer

(2) : eager was keen to begin

b of emotion or feeling : intense the keen delight in the chase— F. W. Maitland

3 : wonderful, excellent a keen idea

4a : having a fine edge or point : sharp a knife with a keen blade

b : affecting one as if by cutting keen sarcasm

c : pungent to the sense a keen scent

keen on

: very enthusiastic or excited about wasn't keen on going

keen

verb

keened; keening; keens

Definition of keen (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : to make a loud and long cry of sorrow : to lament with a keen

b : 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

keen

noun

Definition of keen (Entry 3 of 3)

: a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry

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

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Other Words from keen

Adjective

keenly adverb

keenness \ ˈkēn-nəs

\ noun

Verb

keener noun

Choose the Right Synonym for keen

Adjective

sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding. sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness. sharp enough to spot a confidence game keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind. a keen observer of the political scene acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination. an acute sense of style

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 keen in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Verb

mourners keening at a funeral victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid

Noun

the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Crassus’s keen eye for business, and instinct for any opportunity to increase his wealth, took him into extremely dubious moral territory. — Andrea Frediani, National Geographic, "Money was not enough for Crassus, the richest man in Rome," 11 June 2019 Ayden Beck showed a keen eye at the plate getting on base with four walks. — Emmett Hall, sun-sentinel.com, "Yankees take down Braves for 10U championship," 6 June 2019 Ocean’s keen eye captured everything from Kendall Jenner in an especially provocative moment to Jared Leto’s detached Gucci head making the rounds at dinner. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Frank Ocean Captures the Met Gala on Film," 13 May 2019 Since the Duchess of Sussex is clearly a style maven, her future child, no doubt, will inherit her keen eye for fashion. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "6 Brands Meghan Markle Wears That Also Make Adorable Baby Clothes," 21 Feb. 2019 If the Iranians were keen on not being caught, this was a strange way to go about it. — Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Trump’s clueless Iran policy lurches the U.S. toward war," 19 June 2019 The 63-year-old is keen on gardening, eating right and spending time with family at their getaway in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, "Jimmy Barnes Reflects on Making Chart History, Surviving and Living the Good Life," 11 June 2019 Innovations were sometimes discouraged by either the earlier family generation who were keen on maintaining the tradition, or peer shinise firms who cared about maintaining the tradition of the industry as a whole. — Innan Sasaki, Quartz at Work, "How to build a business that will last centuries," 10 June 2019 For those who aren’t so keen to rappel down the walls of a centuries-old castle, there are other opportunities to get involved. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Calling All Green Thumbs! A Legendary British Island Is Looking to Hire a Resident Gardener," 5 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Dani discovers Christian in flagrante and finally lets out her howling grief, surrounded by a half-dozen girls who match her keening with their own. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Midsommar’s twisted ending, explained," 3 July 2019 Kid zombies maraud the local gas station for candy while adults wander outside the pharmacy listlessly keening for Xanax. — Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: Bill Murray, Adam Driver battle zombies in ‘The Dead Don’t Die’," 13 June 2019 But the soaring cost of housing has become a growing source of urban popular outrage (particularly among younger workers keen to live on their own, but whose earnings barely cover mortgage payments). — Gwynn Guilford, Quartz, "China’s debt disease might wreck its uncrashable housing market," 11 June 2019 As such, Antonio's future with the club has bee cast into doubt with new Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini reportedly keen on acquiring Lazio's Brazilian attacker Felipe Anderson. — SI.com, "West Ham Open to Letting Struggling Star Leave Amid Fulham and Crystal Palace Interest," 1 June 2018 With each side protective of its secrets, and possibly keen to spread disinformation, the full story may never be known. — Fares Akram, The Seattle Times, "Palestinians offer new details of Israel’s botched Gaza raid," 12 Dec. 2018 The Mirror claim that the Frenchman has agreed to join Arsene Wenger's side, with the Gunners keen to wrap up the deal this month for a fee believed to be in the region of £35m, although Los Blancos want £52.3m for the 30-year-old. — SI.com, "Report: Arsenal Strikes Deal to Bring Karim Benzema to the Emirates," 27 Jan. 2018 With both United and the Gunners keen to make a deal happen, a Premier League arrival is a very feasible option for Sokratis - but nothing has emerged regarding his personal preference just yet. — SI.com, "Jose Mourinho Reportedly Phones Arsenal Target & Dortmund Star as Man Utd Eye Potential Deal," 24 May 2018 Southampton are preparing a January swoop for Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes, with the player keen on a move to England, according to reports. — SI.com, "Southampton Fight to Take Lead Over Liverpool in Race for £30m-Rated Winger Quincy Promes," 19 Jan. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Thousands of men, keen of brain and ﬁrm of purpose, are enlisted on both sides, spending vast sums of money, and operating entire navies on the seas, and airplanes and motor fleets on land. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Rewind: What Guarding Uncle Sam's Borders Was Like in 1925," 11 Feb. 2019 It is reported that United are not the only side keen on Kovacic, with Juventus, Inter and Tottenham also reportedly interested in his signature. — SI.com, "Man Utd Interested in Real Madrid's Mateo Kovacic as Jose Mourinho Targets Midfield Additions," 5 Feb. 2018 Lacy, a keen and experienced motorcyclist, was killed Nov. 30 in a motorcycle crash in Botswana. — Will Higgins, Indianapolis Star, "Deaths of 2017: Indiana celebrities and 'everyday Hoosiers' we lost," 26 Dec. 2017 Fenway, an all black shorthair, was overweight, slow-moving and keen on sleeping 23 hours a day. Unless food was involved. — Stefan Stevenson, star-telegram, "Saying goodbye to a food-loving friend, Fenway the cat," 4 Nov. 2017 Well, that's a little more adventure than my Keens have seen. — Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, "The best shoes for your summer trip," 28 May 2017 His voice has the South in it, and the hysterical keen of a chainsaw. — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, "Herman Melville, Volume I," 27 Mar. 2017

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.