keen

Very interested in something or liking it a lot.

• I'm keen on football.
• She has always been a keen reader.
• Are you keen on cooking?

How to use it: keen on something (My sister is keen on photography.); keen on doing something (He is keen on growing his own vegetables.)

Similar words: interested, enthusiastic

Opposites: uninterested

Common phrases: keen on something, keen football fan, keen gardener

Very interested and eager to do something.

• She's keen to learn.
• They were keen to join our team.
• He showed a keen interest in the new project.

How to use it: keen to do something (They are keen to help with the project.); keen on something (I'm keen on the idea of a walking holiday.)

Similar words: eager, enthusiastic, interested

Opposites: reluctant, uninterested

Common phrases: keen to learn, keen interest, keen on something

Very good or pleasing.

• That's a keen little car!
• Your new jacket looks keen.
• We thought the whole party was really keen.

Similar words: great, excellent, swell

Opposites: bad

Common phrases: keen idea, really keen, keen little car

Harsh and bitter in a way that strongly hurts or criticizes someone.

• His speech was full of keen sarcasm.
• Her keen satire exposed the leaders' selfishness.
• The review offered keen criticism of the government's failures.

Similar words: biting, cutting, bitter, caustic

Common phrases: keen satire, keen sarcasm, keen criticism

To cry loudly and sadly, especially because someone has died.

• A woman began to keen.
• They keened for the dead through the night.
• She was keening beside her son's grave.

How to use it: keen for someone (The women keened for their lost children.); keen over someone (She keened over her husband's body.)

Similar words: wail, lament

Common phrases: keen for someone, keen over someone

A long, sad cry made for someone who has died, especially in Irish tradition.

• A keen rose from beside the coffin.
• The women began a traditional keen for the dead.
• Her long keen filled the quiet room.

Similar words: wail, lament

Common phrases: mournful keen, traditional keen, raise a keen