keen

Everyday

1. Keen means very eager or interested: «She is keen on football.» tree →
2. Keen means sharp or strong: «keen eyesight», «a keen wind». tree →
3. (UK/Australia informal) Keen to do something means wanting to do it: «Are you keen?» = do you want to come? tree →

In the lessons

In everyday UK, Irish, Australian and NZ speech «keen» means interested or willing. In science, animals with keen senses (eagles' eyes) are described this way. Phrases: «keen on», «keen to», «a keen eye», «not keen».

Examples

• He's keen on dinosaurs. tree →
• Are you keen to come to the park? tree →
• Eagles have keen eyesight. tree →
• A keen wind blew across the beach. tree →
• I'm not keen on spinach. tree →
• She is a keen reader — two books a week! tree →
• His keen eyes scanned the wide plain. tree →

Note

«Keen on» + noun or -ing; «keen to» + verb. Not keen = doesn't like much (polite). Old sense «sharp» as in a keen blade.

In Jewish tradition

In everyday UK, Irish, Australian and NZ speech «keen» means interested or willing. In science, animals with keen senses (eagles' eyes) are described this way. Phrases: «keen on», «keen to», «a keen eye», «not keen».

Examples

• Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords. (Writings PSA.55.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Keen on» + noun or -ing; «keen to» + verb. Not keen = doesn't like much (polite). Old sense «sharp» as in a keen blade.