avidly

American  

[av-id-lee] / ˈæv ɪd li /

adverb

1. with great enthusiasm, interest, or desire; eagerly.

   As they talked, he followed their exchange avidly, his head turning back and forth between them as if he were watching a tennis match.

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Other Word Forms

• unavidly adverb

Etymology

Origin of avidly

avid ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

When you do something avidly, you do it with enthusiasm and interest. You'll listen avidly to your grandfather's stories if he makes them vivid and enthralling. People who participate avidly in a club or group are seriously involved, and if you avidly follow college basketball, you're a huge fan and watch as many games as you can. Doing things avidly means really throwing yourself into the spirit of things. Avidly comes from its related adjective, avid, or "having enthusiasm for something," from the Latin avidus, "longing, desirous, or greedy," from the root avere, "to desire eagerly."

Example Sentences

In one scene she attends a party with John Maynard Keynes, and she interrogates the economist much more avidly than she does the giant blue angel who materializes in Geoffrey’s bedroom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Templeman avidly avoided the public spotlight, with Branson describing her as a "down-to-earth Scottish lady" and "very private person" who almost never gave interviews.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

Footsie's favourite United player: I used to play right-back so I used to watch Paul Parker and Denis Irwin avidly and just study their games.

From BBC • May 8, 2025

Unlike the novelists I avidly read in my formative years, these playwrights invited actors to endow their words with body and voice.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2024

Mary had done a little rock climbing, and she’d listened avidly as he had talked about the techniques and equipment.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• ardently
• eagerly
• enthusiastically
• fervently
• passionately
• vigorously