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

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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

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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.

Pop Culture

—Avid: A non-linear video editing system developed by Avid Technology, Inc. Best known in the film and video production industry are the Media Composer and Pro Tools video and sound editing software. The Avid editing system was used to edit films such as Iron Man 2, 2012, and Hurt Locker, among many others. Pro Tools was used for the sound edit and mix of Avatar. —AVID: acronym for Advancement Via Individual Determination. A teaching system designed to help underachieving students with high academic potential prepare for entrance to colleges and universities. The system was developed in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson, an English teacher from San Diego. —AVID: acronym for American Veterinary Identification Devices. These are microchips that are permanently implanted in a pet to be used for the animal's identification.

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

Explanation

Avid usually means very eager or enthusiastic. If you're an avid reader, it means you read as much as you can, whenever you can. But this adjective can also mean wanting something so much that you can be thought of as greedy. For example, a person can be avid for success or power. Avid is from French avide, from Latin avidus, from avere "to desire, crave."

Example Sentences

A writer by day and an avid concertgoer by night, I relied for years on Spotify to provide my soundtrack and introduce me to new bands.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

Kempczinski, an avid marathon runner who had joined the company just a few years earlier, hadn’t been part of the late-night socializing of the previous regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Her father described her as an avid volleyball player, who would always turn up to the sports hall 20 to 25 minutes early.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Formerly an avid cyclist, Islas said the incident has irrevocably changed his life.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

The men had little commerce with local people, but being avid radio listeners they could report news and politics from all parts of the nation.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• ardent
• devoted
• eager
• fanatical
• fervent
• hungry
• impatient
• insatiable
• keen
• passionate
• ravenous
• thirsty
• voracious
• zealous