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Keen: meaning, definitions and examples

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keen

 

[ kiːn ]

Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

desire or interest

Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.

Synonyms

eager, enthusiastic, passionate

Examples of usage

  • She was keen to start her new job.
  • He has a keen interest in photography.
Context #2 | Adjective

sharpness

Having a sharp edge; sharp.

Synonyms

acute, keen-edged, sharp

Examples of usage

  • The knife had a keen blade.
  • His keen eyesight allowed him to spot the small details.

Translations

Translations of the word "keen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 entusiasta

🇮🇳 उत्सुक

🇩🇪 begeistert

🇮🇩 bersemangat

🇺🇦 заповзятий

🇵🇱 zapalony

🇯🇵 熱心な

🇫🇷 enthousiaste

🇪🇸 entusiasta

🇹🇷 hevesli

🇰🇷 열정적인

🇸🇦 متحمس

🇨🇿 nadšený

🇸🇰 nadšený

🇨🇳 热心的

🇸🇮 navdušen

🇮🇸 áhugasamur

🇰🇿 құмар

🇬🇪 გატაცებული

🇦🇿 həvəsli

🇲🇽 entusiasta

Word origin

The word 'keen' originated from the Old English word 'cene', meaning 'bold, brave, clever'. Over time, its meanings evolved to include 'eager', 'sharp', and 'enthusiastic'. The word has been used in various contexts to describe both mental sharpness and enthusiasm.

See also: keeness, keening, keenly, keenness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,175 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.