keen

¹

[ keen ]

adjective

, keen·er, keen·est.

1. finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily:

   a keen razor.

   Antonyms: dull

2. sharp, piercing, or biting:

   a keen wind;

   keen satire.

   Synonyms: caustic, bitter, cutting

3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive:

   keen eyes;

   keen ears.

   Synonyms: acute, penetrating, piercing

4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen:

   keen reasoning;

   a keen mind.

   Synonyms: clever, shrewd, sagacious, astute, acute, discerning

   Antonyms: obtuse, dull

5. animated 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.

   Synonyms: fervid, earnest

8. Older Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.

keen

²

[ keen ]

noun

1. a wailing lament for the dead.

verb (used without object)

1. to wail in lamentation for the dead.

verb (used with object)

1. to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing:

   keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.

keen

¹

/ kiːn /

verb

1. to lament the dead

noun

1. a dirge or lament for the dead

keen

²

/ kiːn /

adjective

1. eager or enthusiastic
2. postpositivefoll byon fond (of); devoted (to)

   keen on a girl

   keen on golf

3. intellectually acute

   a keen wit

4. (of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions
5. having a sharp cutting edge or point
6. extremely cold and penetrating

   a keen wind

7. intense or strong

   a keen desire

8. extremely low so as to be competitive

   keen prices

9. slang.
   very good

Derived Forms

• ˈkeener, noun
• ˈkeenness, noun
• ˈkeenly, adverb

Other Words From

• keen·ly adverb
• keen·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of keen¹

First recorded before 900; 1930–35 keen ¹fordef 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni “bold,” Old Norse kœnn “wise, skillful”

Origin of keen²

First recorded in 1780–90 for the verb; from Irish caoin-, stem of caoinim “(I) lament”; noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of keen¹

C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish coīnim I wail

Origin of keen²

Old English cēne; related to Old High German kuoni brave, Old Norse koenn wise; see can ¹, know

Synonym Study

See sharp. See avid.

Example Sentences

Would a state with a keen understanding of the power of propaganda be so willing to just throw away such a trove of information?

From The Daily Beast

Manttan is keen to carry out research on that Burmese side of the railway as his father worked on that section.

From The Daily Beast

It offers keen insights into Hitch's craft while painting an intimate and unsentimental picture of the man behind the camera.

From The Daily Beast

And because millions of us are so keen to do just that, our behavioral habits are changing.

From The Daily Beast

The Telegraph reports that he is fluent in Swahili and a keen zoologist.

From The Daily Beast

The student who does not intend to arouse himself need hope for no keen sense of beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

One other illustration of this keen childish dialectic when face to face with the accuser deserves to be touched on.

From Project Gutenberg

Impersonation may be more easily achieved intellectually, requiring only keen observation and the power of imitation.

From Project Gutenberg

The keen resentment had faded from his face, but an immense reproach was there—a heavy, helpless, appealing reproach.

From Project Gutenberg

Garnache bowed to the lady, who returned his greeting by an inclination of the head, and his keen eyes played briskly over her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxious
• ardent
• avid
• eager
• fervent
• fierce
• impatient
• intense