keen

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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

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

How to use keen in a sentence

Editors covering lifestyle topics would be keener on receiving these kinds of requests.
Social media techniques to integrate into your digital PR strategy|Nicole Franco|December 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch
He develops drinking and gambling habits, and he makes friends in high places who love his keen wit.
The tangled history behind David Fincher’s Mank — and its link to Citizen Kane — explained|Alissa Wilkinson|December 4, 2020|Vox
Parsons is keen to say that the company is very much enjoying its “financial and creative independence.”
Bungie asks lapsed ‘Destiny’ players to ‘come back home’ after split from Activision|Gene Park|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
Small talk and gossip lead the list of “stuff in her head that she wasn’t keen on.”
Make room for ‘Big Girl, Small Town’|Ron Charles|December 2, 2020|Washington Post

There are also keen ways to incentivize traffic guidance while bringing stability to local small and medium businesses throughout cities such as using parking guidance systems to enable local businesses to offer discounts for parking nearby.
The road to smart city infrastructure starts with research|Richard Dal Porto|November 30, 2020|TechCrunch
There is a degree of evenness and keenness of cutting and clean insertion beyond which it is not possible to go.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
Though dining on a train was no novelty to the girls, they never lost the keenness of their first delight in the experience.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
Marlborough had formerly made himself conspicuous by the keenness and pertinacity with which he had attacked the Dutch.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
The custom which the Welshmen brought to the town easily accounts for the keenness of the competition to secure the market.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds|Francis Aiden Hibbert
In arguing points of law he had the tenacity of a bull-dog and the keenness of a sleuth-hound.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh|George W. Foote

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

Other definitions for keen (2 of 2)

Origin of keen

OTHER WORDS FROM 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