keen
1finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind;keen satire.
characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes;keen ears.
having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning;a keen mind.
animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition;keen jealousy.
eager; interested; enthusiastic; (often followed by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
Origin of keen
1synonym study For keen
Other words for keen
Opposites for keen
Other words from keen
- keen·ly, adverb
- keen·ness, noun
Other definitions for keen (2 of 2)
a wailing lament for the dead.
to wail in lamentation for the dead.
to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave.
Origin of keen
2Other words from keen
- keener, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use keen in a sentence
Lest we forget, the Republican candidate in 2012 with the keenest interest in technology was Texas Governor Rick Perry.
If she were a real person, Daria, who had the keenest eye for irony of her generation, would just love that.
Those were the days when between the Scottish railway companies the keenest rivalry and the bitterest competition existed.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowThe keenest lawyer in our county is not so clever a cross-examiner as his sister when she sits with her needles and yarn.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydThere was a Miss Mayblunt, no longer in her teens, who looked at the world through lorgnettes and with the keenest interest.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
The death of Harcla, the keenest and ablest warrior in141 England, did not remove the difficulties from Edward's path.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonSurely Monsieur de Condillac was possessed of the keenest sense of humour in all France.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for keen (1 of 2)
/ (kiːn) /
eager or enthusiastic
(postpositive foll by on) fond (of); devoted (to): keen on a girl; keen on golf
intellectually acute: a keen wit
(of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions
having a sharp cutting edge or point
extremely cold and penetrating: a keen wind
intense or strong: a keen desire
mainly British extremely low so as to be competitive: keen prices
slang, mainly US and Canadian very good
Origin of keen
1Derived forms of keen
- keenly, adverb
- keenness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for keen (2 of 2)
/ (kiːn) /
to lament the dead
a dirge or lament for the dead
Origin of keen
2Derived forms of keen
- keener, noun
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
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