keen
1finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind;keen satire.
characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes;keen ears.
having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning;a keen mind.
animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition;keen jealousy.
eager; interested; enthusiastic; (often followed by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
Origin of keen
1synonym study For keen
Other words for keen
Opposites for keen
Other words from keen
- keen·ly, adverb
- keen·ness, noun
Other definitions for keen (2 of 2)
a wailing lament for the dead.
to wail in lamentation for the dead.
to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.
Origin of keen
2Other words from keen
- keener, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use keen in a sentence
There is a degree of evenness and keenness of cutting and clean insertion beyond which it is not possible to go.
Antonio Stradivari | Horace William PetherickThough dining on a train was no novelty to the girls, they never lost the keenness of their first delight in the experience.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle | Laura Lee HopeMarlborough had formerly made himself conspicuous by the keenness and pertinacity with which he had attacked the Dutch.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington MacaulayThe custom which the Welshmen brought to the town easily accounts for the keenness of the competition to secure the market.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds | Francis Aiden HibbertIn arguing points of law he had the tenacity of a bull-dog and the keenness of a sleuth-hound.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh | George W. Foote
British Dictionary definitions for keen (1 of 2)
/ (kiːn) /
eager or enthusiastic
(postpositive foll by on) fond (of); devoted (to): keen on a girl; keen on golf
intellectually acute: a keen wit
(of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions
having a sharp cutting edge or point
extremely cold and penetrating: a keen wind
intense or strong: a keen desire
mainly British extremely low so as to be competitive: keen prices
slang, mainly US and Canadian very good
Origin of keen
1Derived forms of keen
- keenly, adverb
- keenness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for keen (2 of 2)
/ (kiːn) /
to lament the dead
a dirge or lament for the dead
Origin of keen
2Derived forms of keen
- keener, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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