eagerly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of eagerly
Explanation
If you do something eagerly, you do it with much excitement and enthusiasm. When it's your turn to hit the piñata at a party, you might grab the bat eagerly because you can't wait to take a swing. If you skip breakfast and lunch, you'll eat dinner eagerly, and if you collect stamps, you might eagerly examine every stamped envelope you come across, in case you can add it to your collection. Anything done with an eager attitude is done eagerly. Interestingly, eager has changed in meaning over the years — in the 13th century it meant "fierce or angry," from the Latin acrem, "pointed, piercing, or zealous."
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.
It’s the kind of moment where everyone in the room knows what’s next and everyone is eagerly awaiting for the action to commence.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026
It remains to be seen how eagerly individual investors will hand over full control to the bots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
The results show was also eagerly followed by her legion of fans in Thailand, who were unable to watch the live broadcast on the television network NBC.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
She picked up quickly on the equipment she had to use and eagerly sought advice to get better at the job.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Alexander asked eagerly, for he was the sort of student who enjoyed puzzles and tests of all kinds.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
