Synonyms of eager

eager 1 of 2

adjective

ˈē-gər 

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest

Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excited
• enthusiastic
• avid
• anxious
• keen
• hungry
• ardent
• impatient
• desirous
• pumped
• happy
• enthused
• ready
• interested
• thirsty
• willing
• voracious
• solicitous
• greedy
• antsy
• stoked
• agog
• nuts
• great
• raring
• gung ho
• geeked
• juiced
• crazy
• wild
• engaged
• chomping at the bit
• athirst
• hot
• hepped up
• hopped-up
• champing at the bit
• bonkers
• longing
• gaga
• obsessed
• ambitious
• glad
• restless
• covetous
• craving
• pining
• inclined
• breathless
• restive
• amenable
• hankering
• disposed
• appetent
• game
• hung up
• unreluctant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• apathetic
• unenthusiastic
• uninterested
• casual
• unconcerned
• disinterested
• nonchalant
• incurious
• reluctant
• aloof
• detached
• unwilling
• insouciant
• hesitant
• uneager
• impassive
• stolid
• loath
• lukewarm
• languid
• averse
• halfhearted
• lackadaisical
• languorous
• disinclined
• spiritless

eagerness

2 of 2

noun

as in enthusiasm

urgent desire or interest

students with an eagerness to learn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enthusiasm
• thirst
• excitement
• appetite
• impatience
• hunger
• desirousness
• keenness
• ardor
• avidity
• lust
• passion
• ambition
• zeal
• willingness
• avidness
• alacrity
• readiness
• quickness
• zest
• gusto
• warmth
• fervency
• amenability
• appetence
• appetency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• apathy
• unconcern
• nonchalance
• insouciance
• casualness
• detachment
• aloofness
• languor
• impassivity
• lukewarmness
• languidness
• halfheartedness

Synonym Chooser

How is the word eager distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of eager are anxious, athirst, avid, and keen. While all these words 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

When might anxious be a better fit than eager?

The words anxious and eager can be used in similar contexts, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

When can athirst be used instead of eager?

The synonyms athirst and eager are sometimes interchangeable, but athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

How are the words avid and eager related?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

Where would keen be a reasonable alternative to eager?

While in some cases nearly identical to eager, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of eager

Adjective

Hobie’s world is turned upside down when his daughter Charlie Vale (Jessica Belkin) shows up on his doorstep eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 May 2026

Finch-Hall said Aikman is very eager to learn and train. —Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 11 May 2026

Noun

Training a goldendoodle is generally straightforward because of their intelligence and eagerness to please, though experts recommend specific approaches to get the best results. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Dane Brugler’s analysis Thieneman reminds me of Justin Reid because of his scheme-friendly recognition skills and eagerness to get busy as a run defender. —Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing eager

• eager beaver