keen

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of keen

First recorded before 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni “bold,” Old Norse kœnn “wise, skillful”

synonym study for keen

1, 4. See sharp. 5. See avid.

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

keen·ly, adverbkeen·ness, noun

Words nearby keen

keelless, keel over, keelson, Keelung, keel vessel, keen, Keene, keener, Keene's cement, keening, keenly

Other definitions for keen (2 of 2)

keen²

[ keen ]

/ kin /

noun

a wailing lament for the dead.

verb (used without object)

to wail in lamentation for the dead.

verb (used with object)

to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.

Origin of keen

First recorded in 1780–90 for the verb; from Irish caoin-, stem of caoinim “(I) lament”; noun derivative of the verb

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

keener, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT KEEN

What does keen mean?

Keen commonly means eager, interested, or enthusiastic. This sense of the word is often followed by about or on and the particular interest, as in He’s very keen on music.

More generally, keen means sharp, intense, or strong. It can be used to mean sharp in a literal way, as in a keen blade. It can also be used in several figurative ways. A keen sense of smell is one that’s very strong and perceptive. A keen intellect is one that’s sharp in the sense of being mentally strong. A keen desire is an intense one. A keen satire and a keen wind are both piercing and biting—they both sting.

The word keen can also be used as a slang term meaning wonderful or splendid, and this is how it’s used in the phrase peachy keen, which is used as an informal and playful way to describe something as excellent or wonderful.

Example: He showed keen jealousy over my keen knife.

Where does keen come from?

The first records of the word keen in English come from before 900. It comes from the Old English word cēne and is related to the Old Norse kœnn, meaning “wise, skillful.” Keen wasn’t used in a slang way to mean “excellent” until the 1900s.

Keen can be used in a number of different ways, but most of them involve enthusiasm, intensity, or (literal or figurative) sharpness. When keen is used to describe something sharp—like a knife or a mind—its opposite can be dull in either sense of the word. If you’re keen to do something, it means you’re excited about it—you can’t wait. If you’re not keen on something, it means you’re not interested in it or enthusiastic about it.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to keen?

keenly (adverb)
keenness (noun)

What are some synonyms for keen?

What are some words that share a root or word element with keen?

peachy keen

What are some words that often get used in discussing keen?

How is keen used in real life?

Keen can be used in many different contexts. It’s more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S.

Poll: Nashville generally supports incentives, not as keen on Music City Center http://t.co/d95fq36ZfP pic.twitter.com/qNCFP6AFCi

— Tennessean (@Tennessean) October 18, 2015

Turkey Vultures are carrion feeders which keep the countryside clean — they have a keen sense of smell and can locate remains from a mile away.#WildNebraska pic.twitter.com/JiI5EEElc7

— Nebraska Game and Parks (@NEGameandParks) March 13, 2020

Scientists have learned a lot from Yellowstone wolves over the past 25 years. For instance, they aren’t so keen on the term “alphas” to describe a pack’s dominant pair anymore. A more appropriate term might be leaders or parents.https://t.co/84WmQYUViV

— Wolf Conservation Center (@nywolforg) August 31, 2020

Try using keen!

Which of the following things could be described as keen?

A. a sharp blade
B. a strong sense of hearing
C. an enthusiastic person
D. all of the above

How to use keen in a sentence

That’s not good for a leader like Xi, keen to rule for life.
Butterfly Effect: Can Xi Avoid Trump’s Trap?|Charu Kasturi|August 27, 2020|Ozy
Sorkin is keen to stress that passion and persistence matter more than talent and the value of visualizing dreams before they become reality.
How CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin Would Close the Wealth Gap|Eromo Egbejule|August 26, 2020|Ozy
While countries are keen to build up scant domestic manufacturing capacity, it’s a costly and complex business, and difficult to compete with larger producers, Gavi’s Berkley said.
These countries aren’t waiting for a U.S., China, or U.K. COVID vaccine|Claire Zillman, reporter|August 26, 2020|Fortune
Like young adults who are keen to leave home at age 18, young leopards migrate in order to begin their family and establish territorial control over new areas.
Leopards Are Indeed Changing Their Spots|Eromo Egbejule|August 14, 2020|Ozy

For the last few months, Facebook, keen to look like it’s working with credible publishing sources, has paid Upday journalists to populate its Coronavirus Information Center.
Investments in journalism, algorithms has Axel Springer’s five-year-old aggregator app Upday up over 30% in ad revenue|Lucinda Southern|July 30, 2020|Digiday
Would a state with a keen understanding of the power of propaganda be so willing to just throw away such a trove of information?
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony|Marc Rogers|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Manttan is keen to carry out research on that Burmese side of the railway as his father worked on that section.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway|Liza Foreman|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It offers keen insights into Hitch's craft while painting an intimate and unsentimental picture of the man behind the camera.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And because millions of us are so keen to do just that, our behavioral habits are changing.
Why Every Home Needs a Drone This Holiday|Charlie Gilbert|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Telegraph reports that he is fluent in Swahili and a keen zoologist.
How A British Aristocrat Used Big Game Hunter’s Sperm To Get Pregnant Without His Permission|Tom Sykes|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The student who does not intend to arouse himself need hope for no keen sense of beauty.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
One other illustration of this keen childish dialectic when face to face with the accuser deserves to be touched on.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Impersonation may be more easily achieved intellectually, requiring only keen observation and the power of imitation.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The keen resentment had faded from his face, but an immense reproach was there—a heavy, helpless, appealing reproach.
Confidence|Henry James
Garnache bowed to the lady, who returned his greeting by an inclination of the head, and his keen eyes played briskly over her.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for keen (1 of 2)

keen¹

/ (kiːn) /

adjective

eager or enthusiastic

(postpositive foll by on) fond (of); devoted (to)keen on a girl; keen on golf

intellectually acutea keen wit

(of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions

having a sharp cutting edge or point

extremely cold and penetratinga keen wind

intense or stronga keen desire

mainly British extremely low so as to be competitivekeen prices

slang, mainly US and Canadian very good

Derived forms of keen

keenly, adverbkeenness, noun

Word Origin for keen

Old English cēne; related to Old High German kuoni brave, Old Norse koenn wise; see can 1, know

British Dictionary definitions for keen (2 of 2)

keen²

/ (kiːn) /

verb (intr)

to lament the dead

noun

a dirge or lament for the dead

Derived forms of keen

keener, noun

Word Origin for keen

C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish coīnim I wail

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

keen

OTHER WORDS FOR keen

OPPOSITES FOR keen

Origin of keen

synonym study for keen

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

Words nearby keen

Other definitions for keen (2 of 2)

Origin of keen

OTHER WORDS FROM keen

MORE ABOUT KEEN

What does keen mean?

Where does keen come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is keen used in real life?

Try using keen!

Words related to keen

How to use keen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for keen (1 of 2)

Derived forms of keen

Word Origin for keen

British Dictionary definitions for keen (2 of 2)

Derived forms of keen

Word Origin for keen