(keener, keenest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you are keen on doing something, you very much want to do it. If you are keen that something should happen, you very much want it to happen. (mainly BRIT)
You're not keen on going, are you?...
I'm very keen that the European Union should be as open as possible to trade from Russia...
She's still keen to keep in touch...
I am not keen for her to have a bicycle.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ on -ing/n, ADJ that, ADJ to-inf
• keenness
...Doyle's keenness to please.
...a keenness for the idea of a co-ordinated approach to development.
= enthusiasm
N-UNCOUNT: oft N to-inf
2.
If you are keen on something, you like it a lot and are very enthusiastic about it. (mainly BRIT)
I got quite keen on the idea...
ADJ: v-link ADJ on n
• keenness
...his keenness for the arts.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
You use keen to indicate that someone has a lot of enthusiasm for a particular activity and spends a lot of time doing it.
She was a keen amateur photographer.
ADJ: ADJ n, v-link ADJ on n/-ing
4.
If you describe someone as keen, you mean that they have an enthusiastic nature and are interested in everything that they do.
He's a very keen student and works very hard...
= enthusiastic
ADJ
• keenness
...the keenness of the students.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
A keen interest or emotion is one that is very intense.
He had retained a keen interest in the progress of the work.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• keenly
She remained keenly interested in international affairs...
This is a keenly awaited project.
ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v
6.
If you are a keen supporter of a cause, movement, or idea, you support it enthusiastically.
He's been a keen supporter of the Labour Party all his life...
ADJ: ADJ n
7.
If you say that someone has a keen mind, you mean that they are very clever and aware of what is happening around them.
They described him as a man of keen intellect...
ADJ: ADJ n
• keenly
They're keenly aware that whatever they decide will set a precedent.
ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v
8.
If you have a keen eye or ear, you are able to notice things that are difficult to detect.
...an amateur artist with a keen eye for detail...
= sharp
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• keenly
Charles listened keenly.
ADV: ADV with v
9.
A keen fight or competition is one in which the competitors are all trying very hard to win, and it is not easy to predict who will win.
There is expected to be a keen fight in the local elections.
ADJ
• keenly
The contest should be very keenly fought.
ADV
10.
Keen prices are low and competitive. (mainly BRIT)
The company negotiates very keen prices with their suppliers.
ADJ
• keenly
The shops also offer a keenly priced curtain-making service.
ADV: ADV -ed
11.
If you say that someone is mad keen on something, you are emphasizing that they are very enthusiastic about it. (BRIT INFORMAL)
So you're not mad keen on science then?...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n [emphasis]