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.
Even when individual dancers showed that there was some way to go for their total mastery, none were defeated by Ashton’s demanding dance-making as they pressed eagerly into its intricacies of step and posture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Analysts and investors are eagerly anticipating Netflix’s third quarter earnings results Tuesday, as executives are expected to address how they plan to move the company forward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
This series has been eagerly anticipated, given it is a repeat of last year's World Test Championship final, which was won by the Proteas.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
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
Father eagerly took on the job of teaching me.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
