keen

Study(24)

/kiːn/

adj 5verb 4noun 1name 1

Collocations

(adj.)

VERBS

appear, be, feel, look, seem, sound | remain

ADV

awfully, desperately, especially, extremely, frightfully, mad

She was desperately keen to get the job after hearing about the excellent salary.

more than, particularly, really, terribly, very

My sister is particularly keen on learning Spanish and practices every single day.

not at all, not overly, not too

My parents were not too keen on the idea of me traveling alone after graduation.

fairly, pretty, quite, rather

always

My father was always keen on watching old movies on Sunday afternoons.

obviously

naturally, understandably

He was naturally keen on learning guitar after hearing his favorite musician perform.

PREP

for

The children were really keen for the school trip to the science museum.

My brother is really keen on learning to play guitar this year.

PHRASES

as keen as mustard

Definitions

adj

Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.

I’m keen on computers.

I’m keen on you.

Fierce, intense, vehement.

This boy has a keen appetite.

[N]euer did I know / A creature that did beare the ſhape of man / So keene and greedy to confound a man.

Having a fine edge or point; sharp.

The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen As is the Razors edge, inuisible: […]

Come thick Night, / And pall thee in the dunneſt ſmoake of Hell, / That my keene Knife ſee not the Wound it makes, / Nor Heauen peepe through the Blanket of the darke, / To cry, hold, hold.

Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.

For when we rage, aduiſe is often ſeene By blunting vs to make our wits more keene.

So, when remote futurity is brought / Before the keen inquiry of her thought, / A terrible sagacity informs / The poet's heart; […]

Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.

keen satire or sarcasm

O lawfull let it be / That I have roome with Rome to curſe a while, / Good Father Cardinall, cry thou Amen / To my keene curſes; for without my wrong / There is no tongue hath power to curſe him right.

verb

To make cold, to sharpen.

This is the pureſt exerciſe of health, / The kind refreſher of the ſummer-heats; / Nor, when cold Winter keens the brightening flood, / Would I weak-ſhivering linger on the brink.

noun

A prolonged wail for a deceased person.

[S]he went so swiftly that he could only follow her to the door. The large shape of the car swallowed her up; and the car twisted softly around the little drive and away to the London road. Minutes later he heard its Klaxon, just one sharp keen, like the harsh cry of a sea-bird.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — express grief verbally

lament

adjective — painful as if caused by a sharp instrument

cutting
knifelike
piercing
stabbing
lancinate
lancinating

adjective — very good

adjective — intense or sharp

exquisite

adjective — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine di

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

treat them mean, keep them keen

A woman will be more interested in a man if he is unkind to her.

treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen

Alternative form of treat them mean, keep them keen.

treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen

Alternative form of treat them mean, keep them keen.

Example Bank

I’m keen on computers.

Wiktionary

I’m keen on you.

Wiktionary

She’s keen to learn another language.

Wiktionary

This is the pureſt exerciſe of health, / The kind refreſher of the ſummer-heats; / Nor, when cold Winter keens the brightening flood, / Would I weak-ſhivering linger on the brink.

Wiktionary

Last night he had put down too much Potheen / (A vulgar blend of Methyl and Benzene) / That, at some Wake, he might the better keen. / (Keen—meaning 'brisk'? Nay, here the Language warps: / 'Tis singi

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, keen is marked as rare. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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