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Synonyms

avid

American  
[av-id] / ˈæv ɪd /

adjective

  1. showing great enthusiasm for or interest in.

    an avid moviegoer.

    Synonyms:
    fanatic, zealous, dedicated, devoted, keen, ardent, enthusiastic
    Antonyms:
    reluctant, apathetic, indifferent
  2. extremely desirous; eager; greedy (often followed by for or sometimesof ).

    avid for pleasure; avid of power.

    Synonyms:
    rapacious, rapacious, covetous, insatiable, hungry
    Antonyms:
    loath, disdainful

avid British  
/ ˈævɪd /

adjective

  1. very keen; enthusiastic

    an avid reader

  2. (postpositive; often foll by for or of) eager (for); desirous (of); greedy (for)

    avid for revenge

"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

Related Words

Avid, eager, keen all share the sense of strongly desirous. Avid suggests a desire akin to greed, so strong as to be insatiable: driven by an avid need for fame and recognition. Eager implies a desire that is strong and impatient but less than overpowering: eager to try his hand at new tasks. Keen carries a sense of zest and active, alert desire: an amateur painter, ever keen to try new techniques.

Other Word Forms

  • avidly adverb
  • avidness noun
  • unavid adjective
  • unavidness noun

Etymology

Origin of avid

First recorded in 1760–70; from French avide, from Latin avidus, equivalent to av(ēre) “to crave” + -idus adjective suffix; -id 4

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Derek was a devoted father, a generous member of the charitable Water Rats, an avid golfer and all-around good man who will be greatly missed," Henry added.

From BBC

With its trademark improvisational, genre-blending style, the band became known for never performing the same show twice, winning an avid and diverse legion of fans, and selling millions of records.

From Barron's

The statement described the California native as an "avid sailor and outdoorsman".

From BBC

He’s an analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” and an avid pitchman whose face is all over TV on football Sundays.

From The Wall Street Journal

An avid numerologist, in 1987, he issued new currency in denominations of nine -- a digit considered auspicious, but bewildering shoppers with mental arithmetic.

From Barron's