keen

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: intellectually alert : having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind
a keen student
a keen awareness of the problem
also : shrewdly astute
a keen assessment
b
: extremely sensitive in perception
keen eyes
a keen sense of smell
c
: sharply contested
keen competition
keen debate
2
a(1)
: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic
a keen swimmer
(2)
: eager
was keen to begin
b
of emotion or feeling : intense
the keen delight in the chaseF. W. Maitland
3
: wonderful, excellent
a keen idea
4
a
: having a fine edge or point : sharp
a knife with a keen blade
b
: affecting one as if by cutting
keen sarcasm
c
: pungent to the sense
a keen scent
keenly adverb
keenness noun

keen

2 of 3

verb

keened; keening; keens

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make a loud and long cry of sorrow : to lament with a keen
b
: to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow
a keening siren
2
: to lament, mourn, or complain loudly

transitive verb

: to utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry
keened our sorrowPunch
keener noun

keen

3 of 3

noun

: a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry
Phrases
keen on
: very enthusiastic or excited about
wasn't keen on going
Choose the Right Synonym for keen

sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding.

sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest.

eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

Examples of keen in a Sentence

Adjective When you've been trying to remember something and you suddenly remember it, the mental pleasure is keen. Ian Frazier, Atlantic, October 2004
Indeed, tobacco processors were keen to promote variety even further by saturating and mixing the cut and spun leaf with a miscellany of spices … Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
But Mary wasn't keen on braving the Athens streets alone so Magnus went instead; Mary would do a museum in the morning. John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986
That he took a keen interest in scientific navigation is indicated by his keeping a daybook or journal (which has not survived), and by making an honest effort to determine longitude. Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971
The keen clear wind swept in on his left cheek, and as he bore on the helm so the Sophie answered, quicker and more nervous than he had expected. Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander, 1970
Planting himself squarely before the two tall cowboys who were standing, he looked straight into their lean, bronzed faces. He spared a full moment for that keen cool gaze before he spoke. Zane Grey, Desert Gold, 1913
She's a very keen observer of the political world. pilots with especially keen eyesight Verb mourners keening at a funeral victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid Noun the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And Middle Eastern states, in their rhetoric at least, are not particularly keen for the United States to stay. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Despite the challenges, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan signaled Southwest is not keen on adding planes from the other major airline manufacturer — Airbus — to its fleet. Chris Isidore, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 The European Union is keen on transitioning to electric vehicles, proposing to go zero-emissions for all new cars and vans by 2035. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 But first, Robbie was keen to name two of her favorite Chanel looks she’s worn recently. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The Gros Piton Trail and the Petit Piton Trail are two popular treks for outdoorsy travelers keen on exploring the Piton Mountains. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 Several committee members told me that their constituents were keen to help with Trump’s legal fees. Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Development agencies and governments are equally keen. Fred Pearce, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 Reznor was keen to embrace a number of influences that moved beyond the unwieldy label of industrial music. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
However, by the second movement, Kavakos’s violin keened a melancholy, aria-esque melody in iridescent threads of sound, answered in turn by a cool flute. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023 In these wondrously transporting images of juddering waves and swirling particles, accompanied by the rumbling, surging, keening strains of Ludwig Göransson’s magnificent score, Nolan makes a rare leap into realms of pure cinematic abstraction. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023 Ayler burst onto the New York scene, in 1963, with a roaring and screeching and keening fervor that left behind conventional forms of rhythm and harmony but added the folk elements of spirituals, marches, and blues—and a realm of spirits and ghosts that inhabit those forms. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023 Companies aren’t leaving the market but investing in China has become much more complex, with firms needing to keen an eye on geopolitics and sanctions, as well as business conditions and markets, according to Joerg Wuttke, the president of the chamber in China. Bloomberg News, Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023 Sevilla, also keen on Otamendi, is still an unlikely candidate to go down—a fate that would see its global status suffer a hefty blow. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 How to claim $1,000 first-bet insurance Marylanders can get into the action at BetMGM, with sports bettors keen on signing up and making the most of the $1,000 first-bet insurance welcome bonus. Catena Media, oregonlive, 28 Nov. 2022 The ensuing delays have tempted companies initially keen on a Dallas address to look elsewhere. Dallas News, 14 Feb. 2022 Priya Kansara leads as Ria, a daydreamer and keen martial artist who aspires to become a stuntwoman. Thomas Page, CNN, 27 Jan. 2023
Noun
The song finds Abstract continuing to explore the contours of indie and alternative rock, with a simmering lo-fi guitar riff that gives way to the uneasy keen of a synth. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023 For those keen to explore the country deeper and differently, Vinho Verde awaits. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2023 For those keen on camping, this portable, self-inflating tent is designed to be water- and weather-resistant. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023 All three species are, in fact, powerful stimulants, and, as such, have long attracted those keen to enjoy their attributes. Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2022 This historic city on the country's southeast coast not only has one of the most beautiful castles in Scandinavia but is also ideal for those keen on outdoor adventure. Joe Minihane, CNN, 8 Nov. 2022 The Ravens have a hole at wide receiver but a front office keen on preserving its draft capital. Jonas Shaffer, Baltimore Sun, 20 Oct. 2022 The appeal of eating these foods outdoors is partly about smell: A hot dog smothered in onions benefits from a bit of outdoor breeze to carry the onion smell away and keep your appetite keen. Bee Wilson, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Speaking of those keen on harming the former Mrs. Fred Waterford, Mayday has come through for June. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 22 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'keen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English kene brave, sharp, from Old English cēne brave; akin to Old High German kuoni brave

Verb

Irish caoinim I lament, weep

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1845, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of keen was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near keen

Cite this Entry

“Keen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

keen

1 of 3 adjective
1
: having a sharp edge or point
a keen knife
2
: seeming to cut or sting
a keen wind
3
: full of enthusiasm
keen about baseball
4
a
: having or showing mental sharpness
a keen mind
b
: very sensitive (as in seeing or hearing)
keen eyesight
5
: very nice : wonderful
gee, that's keen
keenly adverb
keenness noun

keen

2 of 3 verb
: to mourn in a loud wailing voice

keen

3 of 3 noun
: a mourning for the dead with loud wails

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