keen

/kin/

/kin/

Other forms: keenest; keener; keening; keened; keens

If you have a keen interest in something, you are really, really into it. Keen is an adjective that describes something that is intense, sharp, or focused.

The word keen comes from the Old English word cene that translates to "bold and brave" and while the spelling is now really different, the sounds are similar. Variations of keen as being "bold" and "strong" show up in other languages, but only English has the meaning of "sharp" — relating to "an edge or blade." Keen has a lot of close — and brutal — synonyms, such as caustic, cutting, piercing, and penetrating. It can also be used as a verb to mean "express grief or pain out loud."

Definitions of keen

1. adjective

   intense or sharp
   synonyms: exquisite, searing

   intense

   possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
2. adjective

   having a sharp cutting edge or point
   “a keen blade”

   synonyms:

   sharp

   having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing
3. adjective

   painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
   “keen winds”

   synonyms: cutting, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, piercing, stabbing

   sharp

   keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point
4. adjective

   having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
   synonyms: acute, discriminating, incisive, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp

   perceptive

   having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment
5. adjective

   very good
   synonyms: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, groovy, neat, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell

   good

   having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
6. adjective

   having or showing great excitement and interest
   synonyms: enthused, enthusiastic

   ardent, warm

   characterized by strong enthusiasm

   avid, zealous

   marked by active interest and enthusiasm

   crazy, dotty, gaga, wild

   intensely enthusiastic about or preoccupied with

   evangelical, evangelistic

   marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause

   glowing

   highly enthusiastic

   gung ho, gung-ho

   very enthusiastic and dedicated

   overenthusiastic

   unduly enthusiastic

   passionate

   having or expressing strong emotions

   spirited

   displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness
7. adjective

   having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
   synonyms: agog, eager

   anxious, dying

   eagerly desirous

   hot

   having or showing great eagerness or enthusiasm

   impatient, raring

   (usually followed by 'to') full of eagerness

   overeager

   excessively eager

   enthused, enthusiastic

   having or showing great excitement and interest
8. noun

   a funeral lament sung with loud wailing
   type of:

   coronach, dirge, lament, requiem, threnody

   a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
9. verb

   express grief verbally
   synonyms: lament

   type of:

   express emotion, express feelings

   give verbal or other expression to one's feelings