keenly
Americanadverb
-
in a way or to a degree that is very sharply or distinctly felt.
As a husband and father, he is keenly aware of the risks inherent in his new construction job.
-
in a way that shows great mental perceptiveness or insight.
He showed foreign policy savvy and an ability to keenly analyze both sides of an issue.
-
with strong or intense emotion or desire; eagerly.
We committee members are keenly interested in addressing these important issues head-on.
-
in a sharply focused way; intently.
Participants listened keenly to the training presentation.
Etymology
Origin of keenly
First recorded before 1000; keen 1 ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Keenly is used to describe things that are intense or deeply perceptive. If you're keenly aware that your sister is grouchy in the morning, you'll steer clear of her until lunch time. Sometimes keenly means "enthusiastically," like when you keenly anticipate the next installment in your favorite science fiction book series. In the U.S., it's more commonly used to describe a profound kind of intensity. A movie character might be keenly desperate; your friend may demonstrate how keenly intelligent she is during her debate; or you may keenly regret telling your grandmother what you really thought of her new tattoo.
Vocabulary lists containing keenly
RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women
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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.
"North Korean authorities are keenly aware of the impact of outside media," she said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
Both Rooney and Kate are keenly aware of how petrifying it can be to be perceived, and how galvanizing it can be as well, and they bring both senses to their shared performance.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
From there, he rose through the ranks of the company, taking charge of an office where his portraits and keenly observed caricatures of colleagues were prominently displayed.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Personal and regional, Mr. Wade’s account is not comprehensive, but it is deeply felt and keenly observed, often firsthand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
If we’re not keenly aware of the choices we’re making, we’re not likely to work for better ones.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
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.
