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adjective, -er, -est.
1.
finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
2.
sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
3.
characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
4.
having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
5.
EXPANDanimated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
6.
intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7.
eager; interested; enthusiastic (often followed by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8.
COLLAPSESlang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
Origin:
before 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful
before 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful
Related forms
keen·ly, adverb
keen·ness, noun
Synonyms
1, 4. See sharp. 2. cutting, bitter, caustic. 3. piercing, penetrating, acute. 4. discerning, acute, astute, sagacious, shrewd, clever. 5. See avid. 7. earnest, fervid.
1, 4. See sharp. 2. cutting, bitter, caustic. 3. piercing, penetrating, acute. 4. discerning, acute, astute, sagacious, shrewd, clever. 5. See avid. 7. earnest, fervid.
Antonyms
1, 3, 4. dull.
1, 3, 4. dull.
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Keen
is always a great word to know.
So is oyster. Does it mean:
| deceptive, exaggerated, or meaningless talk |
| a closemouthed or uncommunicative person, especially one who keeps secrets well |
Example Sentences
- But few people have stopped to ask why dogs have such a keen sense of right and wrong.
- She remains a keen observer of the insect, animal and plant life around her.
- She has a keen ear.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a wailing lament for the dead.
verb (used without object)
2.
to wail in lamentation for the dead.
verb (used with object)
3.
to bewail or lament by or with keening.
Origin:
1805–15; < Irish caoine (noun), caoin- (v., stem of caoinim) lament
1805–15; < Irish caoine (noun), caoin- (v., stem of caoinim) lament
Related forms
keen·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To keen
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
keen
O.E. cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from P.Gmc. *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "skilled;" cf. O.N. kænn "skillful, wise," M.Du. coene "bold," O.H.G. kuon "pugnacious, strong," Ger. Kühn "bold,
EXPANDdaring." Sense of "eager" is from mid-14c. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to Eng.: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
keen
"lament," 1811, from Ir. caoinim "I weep, wail, lament," from O.Ir. coinim.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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