Keen
adjective
Having a sharp edge or point.
He always keeps his knives keen for cooking.
Often appears as...
- keen blade
- keen edge
adjective
Very interested.
He's keen on learning new languages.
Often appears as...
- keen on
- keen interest
adjective
Very good or intense.
She has a keen sense of humor.
Often appears as...
- keen sense
- keen observer
adjective
Very excited or enthusiastic.
She’s keen to get started on the project.
Often appears as...
- keen to start
- keen anticipation
verb
To wail in lamentation for the dead.
The mourners were keen over the body.
Often appears as...
- keen for the dead
- keen with sorrow
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
adjective
Having a sharp edge or point.
He always keeps his knives keen for cooking.
Often appears as...
- keen blade
- keen edge
adjective
Very interested.
He's keen on learning new languages.
Often appears as...
- keen on
- keen interest
adjective
Very good or intense.
She has a keen sense of humor.
Often appears as...
- keen sense
- keen observer
adjective
Very excited or enthusiastic.
She’s keen to get started on the project.
Often appears as...
- keen to start
- keen anticipation
verb
To wail in lamentation for the dead.
The mourners were keen over the body.
Often appears as...
- keen for the dead
- keen with sorrow
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Sharpness
Use this meaning for describing sharp objects like knives or tools, emphasizing their cutting ability.
The lumberjack's keen axe cut through the tree swiftly.
Pro Tip 2/2Not for People
Avoid using this definition to describe people. It's for objects that literally cut.
She admired the keen edge of the paper cutter.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Sharpness
Use this meaning for describing sharp objects like knives or tools, emphasizing their cutting ability.
The lumberjack's keen axe cut through the tree swiftly.
Pro Tip 2/2Not for People
Avoid using this definition to describe people. It's for objects that literally cut.
She admired the keen edge of the paper cutter.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Sharpness
Use this meaning for describing sharp objects like knives or tools, emphasizing their cutting ability.
The lumberjack's keen axe cut through the tree swiftly.
Pro Tip 2/2Not for People
Avoid using this definition to describe people. It's for objects that literally cut.
She admired the keen edge of the paper cutter.
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Video examples
Expanding our definition...
school districts who've reordered themselves around the issues that I was raising what I'm keen to say is that I wasn't making this stuff up I gave a talk a while ago at a university in the Midwest somewhere and over lunch with the faculty beforehand some guys said to me you've been at this a long time now
Video examples
Which country does the...
and why. Why did I do this? Well, because the governments that I advise are very, very keen on knowing how they are regarded. They've known, partly because I've encouraged them to realize it, that countries depend enormously on their reputations in order to survive and prosper in the world.
Video examples
How did Polynesian...
Canoe building involved the whole community, bringing together the navigators, canoe builders, priests, chanters, and hula dancers. Navigators were keen observers of the natural world. They were abundantly familiar with trade wind-generated ocean swells,
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
for the first time she's keen to start parenting but the father needs persuading to surrender the chick he's been caring for all winter he must now put his chick at risk in these temperatures it could freeze in seconds
Video examples
Hair-Raising Hyena...
and still be breathing not just breathing but have the will to live that is so keen that it gets up and it goes only a hyena only a hyena you may not think they're beautiful but my goodness you've got to respect them
Video examples
Eternal Adversaries:...
that is so keen that it gets up and it goes. Only a hyena... Only a hyena. You may not think they're beautiful, but my goodness, you've got to respect them. You've got to.
Video examples
Best Monkey Moments PIPE...
the world of animals is not without its hazards in rajasthan the temple langers have taken spy monkey into the heart of the family but some are keen to take the budding
Video examples
Macaques SLAP Squirrels...
luckily help is at hand these giant Malabar squirrels have a keen sense of smell tuned into the hypest fruits the macaques watch the squirrels every move
Video examples
Penguin Chicks Struggle...
She's keen to start parenting but the father needs persuading to surrender the chick he's been caring for all winter.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 174 PIPE...
get it we're not gonna get a keen B we gonna get an abstracted B I'm afraid
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
school districts who've reordered themselves around the issues that I was raising what I'm keen to say is that I wasn't making this stuff up I gave a talk a while ago at a university in the Midwest somewhere and over lunch with the faculty beforehand some guys said to me you've been at this a long time now
Video examples
Which country does the...
and why. Why did I do this? Well, because the governments that I advise are very, very keen on knowing how they are regarded. They've known, partly because I've encouraged them to realize it, that countries depend enormously on their reputations in order to survive and prosper in the world.
Video examples
How did Polynesian...
Canoe building involved the whole community, bringing together the navigators, canoe builders, priests, chanters, and hula dancers. Navigators were keen observers of the natural world. They were abundantly familiar with trade wind-generated ocean swells,
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
for the first time she's keen to start parenting but the father needs persuading to surrender the chick he's been caring for all winter he must now put his chick at risk in these temperatures it could freeze in seconds
Video examples
Hair-Raising Hyena...
and still be breathing not just breathing but have the will to live that is so keen that it gets up and it goes only a hyena only a hyena you may not think they're beautiful but my goodness you've got to respect them
Video examples
Eternal Adversaries:...
that is so keen that it gets up and it goes. Only a hyena... Only a hyena. You may not think they're beautiful, but my goodness, you've got to respect them. You've got to.
Video examples
Best Monkey Moments PIPE...
the world of animals is not without its hazards in rajasthan the temple langers have taken spy monkey into the heart of the family but some are keen to take the budding
Video examples
Macaques SLAP Squirrels...
luckily help is at hand these giant Malabar squirrels have a keen sense of smell tuned into the hypest fruits the macaques watch the squirrels every move
Video examples
Penguin Chicks Struggle...
She's keen to start parenting but the father needs persuading to surrender the chick he's been caring for all winter.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 174 PIPE...
get it we're not gonna get a keen B we gonna get an abstracted B I'm afraid
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Iain De Caestecker
Scottish Actor
My mom was always keen I stayed in school and got good grades, and she was always keen for me to do medicine. I used to go to drama classes when I was younger, and she would always take me. But when I got to an age when I decided it was what I wanted to do, when she accepted it, she had actually been the most supportive person ever.
Quote examples
George Grey
New Zealander Leader
I mention this fact as tending to support what I have often heard stated, namely, that a shark's sense of smell is so keen that, if men ever bathe in seas where they are found, a shark is almost sure to appear directly afterwards.
Quote examples
Georgina Campbell
English Actress
If you read the script, and the character's got something in it that you relate to, then I am keen. But I really think, a lot of the time, my successful auditions are those where I really care about the characters.
Quote examples
Jean-Philippe Courtois
French Businessman
I think, what I would communicate to people, if you are really keen in helping the world, you could spend so much quality time in terms of coaching, learning, providing great energy to the social entrepreneurs.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence.
Quote examples
Paul Simon
American Musician
I try to open up my heart as much as I can and keep a real keen eye out that I don't get sentimental. I think we're all afraid to reveal our hearts. It's not at all in fashion.
Quote examples
Frank Lampard
English Athlete
Reading and writing is so important, and it's something I am really keen to promote. It's something that can be a bit lost these days with so much else going on.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
Some colleagues have said they would not be very keen on working with me, but I am sure these things were said in the heat of the moment.
Quote examples
Gyles Brandreth
British Actor
When I was an MP, I worked at the department where we gave honors to people from the arts world, I was quite keen.
Quote examples
Nelson Mandela
South African Statesman
Intervention only works when the people concerned seem to be keen for peace.
Quote examples
Iain De Caestecker
Scottish Actor
My mom was always keen I stayed in school and got good grades, and she was always keen for me to do medicine. I used to go to drama classes when I was younger, and she would always take me. But when I got to an age when I decided it was what I wanted to do, when she accepted it, she had actually been the most supportive person ever.
Quote examples
George Grey
New Zealander Leader
I mention this fact as tending to support what I have often heard stated, namely, that a shark's sense of smell is so keen that, if men ever bathe in seas where they are found, a shark is almost sure to appear directly afterwards.
Quote examples
Georgina Campbell
English Actress
If you read the script, and the character's got something in it that you relate to, then I am keen. But I really think, a lot of the time, my successful auditions are those where I really care about the characters.
Quote examples
Jean-Philippe Courtois
French Businessman
I think, what I would communicate to people, if you are really keen in helping the world, you could spend so much quality time in terms of coaching, learning, providing great energy to the social entrepreneurs.
Quote examples
George Eliot
British Author
If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence.
Quote examples
Paul Simon
American Musician
I try to open up my heart as much as I can and keep a real keen eye out that I don't get sentimental. I think we're all afraid to reveal our hearts. It's not at all in fashion.
Quote examples
Frank Lampard
English Athlete
Reading and writing is so important, and it's something I am really keen to promote. It's something that can be a bit lost these days with so much else going on.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
Some colleagues have said they would not be very keen on working with me, but I am sure these things were said in the heat of the moment.
Quote examples
Gyles Brandreth
British Actor
When I was an MP, I worked at the department where we gave honors to people from the arts world, I was quite keen.
Quote examples
Nelson Mandela
South African Statesman
Intervention only works when the people concerned seem to be keen for peace.
Example 1 of 10
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