keen

adjective

UK /kiːn/

Word Forms

adjective	keen
comparative	keener
superlative	keenest

1
wanting to do something, or wanting other people to do something
be keen to do something:
The government is keen to avoid further conflict with the unions.
very/particularly keen:
We are very keen to encourage more local employers to work with us.
be keen on doing something:
The captain wasn’t keen on having him in the team.
be keen for someone to do something:
Of course I’m keen for him to be successful.
Synonyms and related words
Wanting or needing something
anxious
impatient
longing
1. 1a
  wanting to do something well
  Many of our players are very young and keen.
  The students in this class are all very keen.
  Synonyms and related words
  Enthusiastic
  enthusiastic
  keen
  eager
2
only before nounvery interested in an activity that you do often because you enjoy it
a keen cyclist/gardener/amateur historian
Synonyms and related words
Enthusiastic
enthusiastic
keen
eager
3
very strong
His business training was combined with a keen sense of duty.
a keen awareness of the importance of IT to industry
a keen interest in something:
Mr Lindsay always took a keen interest in his pupils’ achievements.
Synonyms and related words
Serious, severe and extreme
serious
severe
extreme
4
keen sight, hearing etc makes you very good at seeing things, hearing things etc
Vultures are known for their extremely keen eyesight.
I have a very keen sense of smell.
Synonyms and related words
The senses and using the senses
acute
assail
assault
1. 4a
  used about someone’s mental abilities
  a keen mind/brain/intellect
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe intelligent thought or actions
  genius
  intellectual
  reasoned
5
mainly literarya keen wind is cold and strong
Synonyms and related words
Describing and measuring the wind
the Beaufort scale
biting
cutting
6
literarya keen blade is very sharp
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe tools and parts of tools
barbed
double-edged
dull

phrases

(as) keen as mustard

a keen eye for something

keen on someone

keen on something

keen

adjective

US /kin/

Word Forms

adjective	keen
comparative	keener
superlative	keenest

1
keen sight, hearing, etc. makes you very good at seeing things, hearing things, etc.
I have a very keen sense of smell.
Synonyms and related words
The senses and using the senses
acute
assail
assault
1. 1a
  used about someone’s mental abilities
  a keen mind/brain/intellect
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe intelligent thought or actions
  genius
  intellectual
  reasoned
2
mainly literarya keen wind is cold and strong
Synonyms and related words
Describing and measuring the wind
the Beaufort scale
biting
cutting
3
very strong
a manager who takes a keen interest in his employees
Synonyms and related words
Serious, severe and extreme
serious
severe
extreme
4
literarya keen blade is very sharp
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe tools and parts of tools
barbed
double-edged
dull
5
mainly Britishwanting to do something, or wanting other people to do something
We are keen to encourage more local employers to work with us.
Synonyms and related words
Wanting or needing something
anxious
impatient
longing
1. 5a
  mainly Britishwanting to do something well
  The students in this class are all very keen.
  Synonyms and related words
  Enthusiastic
  enthusiastic
  keen
  eager
6
only before nounmainly Britishvery interested in an activity that you do often because you enjoy it
a keen hiker/gardener/amateur astronomer
Synonyms and related words
Enthusiastic
enthusiastic
keen
eager

phrases

keen on something

a keen eye for something

keen on someone

keen

verb intransitive mainly literary

UK /kiːn/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	keen
he/she/it	keens
present participle	keening
past tense	keened
past participle	keened

1
to make a long high sound expressing pain or sadness
Synonyms and related words
To make a high sound
beep
bleep
chime
Synonyms and related words
To express sadness
keen
lament
lament

keen

verb intransitive mainly literary

US /kin/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	keen
he/she/it	keens
present participle	keening
past tense	keened
past participle	keened

1
to make a long high sound expressing pain or sadness
Synonyms and related words
To make a high sound
beep
bleep
chime
Synonyms and related words
To express sadness
keen
lament
lament

keen ​‌‌‌

keen ​‌

keen

keen

keen

keen