eager

[ee-ger]

adjective

1. keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longing.

   I am eager for news about them. He is eager to sing.

   Synonyms: interested, desirous, enthusiastic
   Antonyms: uninterested, indifferent, apathetic

2. characterized by or revealing great earnestness.

   an eager look.

   Synonyms: earnest, intense, intent, fervid, zealous, fervent
   Antonyms: negligent, heedless

3. Obsolete.,  keen; sharp; biting.

eager

¹

/ ˈiːɡə /

adjective

1. (postpositive; often foll by to or for) impatiently desirous (of); anxious or avid (for)

   he was eager to see her departure

2. characterized by or feeling expectancy or great desire

   an eager look

3. archaic,  tart or biting; sharp

eager

²

/ ˈeɪɡə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of eagre

Other Word Forms

• eagerly adverb
• eagerness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of eager¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English egre, from Anglo-French, Old French egre, aigre, from Vulgar Latin (unattested) ācrus for Latin ācer “sharp”

Word History and Origins

Origin of eager¹

C13: from Old French egre, from Latin acer sharp, keen

Synonym Study

See avid.

Example Sentences

The tree-lined street that ran beside it was once a favourite place for courting couples, eager to avoid Gaza's socially conservative gaze.

From BBC

This Trumpist fulfillment is largely enabled by a supine Republican Congress and a Supreme Court that is seemingly eager to codify it.

From Salon

"The security there was eager to help out and they found the phone was in a box, among another 894 phones."

From BBC

Turkey is also eager to benefit from an opening created by waning Russian influence.

From BBC

It was a Monday, and the release of new 75 series number plates was expected to produce a surge in demand from eager car buyers.

From BBC

Related Words

• ambitious 
• greedy 
• hungry 
• impatient 
• keen 
• restless 
• thirsty