eager
/ˈiːɡə
/adjective
1Strongly wanting to do or have something: the man was eager to please young intellectuals eager for knowledge...
- All were extremely enthusiastic, and eager for everyone on the course to do well.
- I was fascinated to watch her plying her trade to the many young girls eager for her wares.
- I can understand that Blackburn are eager for a reply but I cannot give them my decision yet.
Synonyms
anxious, impatient, waiting with bated breath, longing, yearning, aching, wishing, hoping, hopeful, thirsty, hungry, greedy;
desirous of, hankering after, intent on, bent on, set on;
on the edge of one's seat, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
informal hot, itching, gagging, dying
1.1(Of a person’s expression or tone of voice) keenly expectant or interested: small eager faces looked up and listened...
- Kit nodded and leapt to her feet, an eager expression appearing on her face as she did so.
- Bridge leaned over and glanced at the maps with an eager expression on her face.
- Ryne flinched at the overly eager, overly loud voice that greeted his arrival back home.
Synonyms
keen, enthusiastic, avid, fervent, ardent, zealous, passionate, motivated, wholehearted, dedicated, committed, earnest, diligent
informal bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, mad keen, (as) keen as mustard
rare fervid, perfervid, passional
Origin
Middle English (also in the sense 'pungent, sour'): from Old French aigre 'keen', from Latin acer, acr- 'sharp, pungent'.