eagerea‧ger /ˈiːɡə $ -ər/ ●●○ adjective 
I was eager to get back to work as soon as possible. He’s a bright kid and eager to learn. She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. A crowd of eager young students were already waiting outside.eager for fans eager for a glimpse of the singer2eager beaver informal someone who is too keen and works harder than they should—eagerly adverb: They’re eagerly awaiting the big day.—eagerness noun [uncountable]: People were pushing each other out of the way in their eagerness to get to the front.
WORD ORIGINeager
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French aigre, from Latin acer ‘sharp’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A crowd of eager fans were waiting outside the hotel.
- a group of eager volunteers
- She hurried home from college, eager to hear Tom's news.
- Simon was an ambitious man, eager for power and prestige.
- As in the Horton days, the dancers were eager to work with him.
- But were they eager to learn?
- He was both eager to adopt the right stance and unnerved by the strangeness of it.
- I was eager to figure out how much money Peter, and I, had won.
- Much of the routine work was done by girl students eager to earn a little extra towards their fees.
- People are quick to slap that label on you, and then just as eager to predict your downfall.
- Perhaps the captain of the frigate was a touch too eager.
THESAURUS
feeling or showing a lot of interest or excitement about something: · He’s really enthusiastic about his new job.· An enthusiastic crowd cheered the team onto the pitch.
wanting to do something or know about something very soon: · He was eager to hear every detail of her day.· She was always eager for her turn on the catwalk.· The room was full of eager young faces.· We waited in eager anticipation.
eager to work or learn: · She hasn’t much experience but she’s very keen.· John was a keen student who worked very hard.
doing something in a very enthusiastic way, especially supporting something or making sure that people obey rules: · She was a zealous supporter of the revolution.· The company has been extremely zealous in defending its interests.· Officials have been very zealous in the application of the new regulations.
[only before noun] written used when you want to emphasize that someone does something a lot or is very interested in something: · an avid golfer· She was an avid reader all her life.· I’ve become an avid collector of his work.· Henry is an avid fan of the sport.· As a schoolboy he had an avid interest in birds.
written believing or feeling something very strongly and sincerely: · Galinsoga was one of Franco’s most fervent supporters.· One of Allen 's fervent admirers was Richard Nixon.· her fervent belief in promoting the work of good women artists
British English informal to like something very much and be very interested in it: · My sister’s mad about horses.· Since you’re so mad about clothes, you can help me choose a wedding dress.
to be very eager to do something: · I can’t wait to get started.
to feel pleased and excited because you know that something is going to happen soon: · I’m looking forward to the vacation.
Longman Language Activatorenthusiastic behaving in a way that shows how much you like, enjoy, or approve of something: · A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered as the players ran onto the field.· Several enthusiastic young teachers have just started working at the school.enthusiastic about: · He's still really enthusiastic about his new job.
especially British very enthusiastic about an activity or job: · She hasn't much experience but she's very keen.keen on: · There are plenty of after-school opportunities for people who are keen on athletics.keen on doing something: · My parents have always been keen on travelling, whenever they get the chance.a keen golfer/photographer/gardener etc: · Chris is a keen photographer - he's won several competitions.keen to do something: · Gabby was obviously anxious to do well, and Jane was keen to help her.
wanting very much to do, get, or see something soon: · A crowd of eager fans were waiting outside the hotel.eager to do something: · She hurried home from college, eager to hear Tom's news.eager for: · Simon was an ambitious man, eager for power and prestige.
to be very enthusiastic about an idea or plan, and talk about it with great excitement: · We've discussed the idea and she seems to be full of enthusiasm.be full of enthusiasm for: · Roger was full of enthusiasm for Tony's plan.
to be enthusiastic about something that is going to happen: · It was a great opportunity, and I began to get really excited about it.· Astronomers are very excited about a comet that will pass close to Earth later this month.
to be extremely enthusiastic and excited about something that you are going to do, so that you cannot wait to begin: · Come on, hurry up. The kids are raring to go.· It's going to be a tough game, but the whole team's ready and raring to go.
extremely enthusiastic about something such as a political or religious idea which you believe in very strongly, and behaving in a way that shows this: a zealous believer/opponent/supporter etc: · Only the most zealous supporters of Thatcherism were in favour of the tax.zealous in doing something: · Some of the officers were more zealous than others in enforcing the disciplinary code.
enthusiastic feelings or behaviour enthusiastic feelings or behaviour: the enthusiasm of somebody/somebody's enthusiasm: · The company has had another successful year, thanks to the enthusiasm and energy of our workforce.enthusiasm for: · I'd forgotten about Jim's enthusiasm for going on 20-mile walks.full of enthusiasm (=very enthusiastic): · Greta was full of enthusiasm for the plan.with great enthusiasm: · She plays tennis with great enthusiasm, but not very well.
a great and excited desire to do, get, or see something soon: · He could see the eagerness in her face.eagerness for: · the President's obvious eagerness for an arms-control agreementin somebody's eagerness to do something: · Mark spoke quickly in his eagerness to explain his ideas.
to want something very much to want something to happen, when it is unlikely or impossible that it will happen, or when you cannot control what will happen: wish (that): · I wish I had a car like that.· Beth wished she could stay there forever.wish somebody/something would do something: · I wish they would turn that music down.
especially spoken to want something very much, and feel that you would be happy if you had it: · I would love a cup of coffee.would love to do something: · She would love to have children, but she hasn't met the right man.· "Would you like to go on a Caribbean cruise?" "I'd love to!" would love somebody to do something: · My mother would love me to come and live in New York with her.
if you say that you would do anything , would give anything or would give your right arm , you mean you very much want to have something or do something, especially something that is impossible to get or do: would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm for: · I would do anything for a drink right now!· I would give anything for a look at that file.would do anything/would give anything/would give your right arm to do something: · When she first started writing, she would have done anything to get an article printed.· I'd give my right arm to be 21 again.
also be keen to do something British to want to do something very much, especially because you think it will be interesting or enjoyable or it will help other people: · He's really keen to meet you.· I was eager to get my hands on these rare recordings.· Donna is very eager to prove her worth to the group.be keen for somebody to do something: · My parents were keen for me to be independent, and let me have a lot of freedom.
to want very much to do or achieve something, so that you make a great effort: · Miles was anxious to gain his boss's approval, and was always the last to leave the office in the evening.· A newly-arrived executive is usually anxious to make his mark in a new firm.be anxious for somebody/something to do something: · After the war, the government was anxious for the tourist industry to be revived.
to want something very much, and feel that you must have it or do it immediately: be dying to do something: · I'm dying to meet Lisa's new boyfriend.be dying for: · I'm dying for a drink - let's go to a bar.
especially British to want or need something so much that you will be very unhappy or disappointed if you do not get it: · I could see that they were desperate and needed help.be desperate to do something: · After having four boys, the couple were desperate to have a little girl.· We were desperate to view the inside of the house once we saw the garden.be desperate for: · Newspapers are always desperate for stories.
spoken say this when you want something to happen as soon as possible, because you know you will enjoy it and you are very excited about it: · "You're going on holiday soon, aren't you?" "Yes, I can't wait."I can't wait to do something: · I can't wait to see Bill again - it's been a long time.can't wait for: · I can't wait for Christmas.
to be impatient to do something that you are excited about, especially something you have not done before: · She's just itching to tell you about her new boyfriend.· Despite her success, however, it just wasn't much fun anymore. Liz was itching to try something different.
a word used especially in spoken English meaning to want something very much, especially something to eat, drink etc: · I need a drink - coming to the bar?· Dave's been working really hard - he needs a holiday.
to want as much of something as you can get, especially food, attention, or a drug: · I've always craved love and acceptance.· The review gave Picasso a taste of the recognition he craved.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. People were pushing each other out of the way in their eagerness to get to the front.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Most children are eager to please.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1very keen and excited about something that is going to happen or about something you want to doeager to do something She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. People were pushing each other out of the way in their eagerness to get to the front. Most children are eager to please.· Glover was genial, modest, and always eager to improve himself.· Bosses were not always eager to befriend trainees.· Inder Lal is always eager to hear Chid's letters.· Danny himself has two young children, always eager for exciting stories.· They were always eager to help or run messages and she enjoyed making tea and cakes for them.· They are always eager to learn more about the world in which they live...· Cousteau, barely in his twenties, was a happy-go-lucky youngster, always eager and willing and a more than competent seaman.· And not such a bad parent-always with time to spare, always eager to please, often funny.
· Either way, it looks like women will be as eager as men to invest in a tux for Christmas.· People are quick to slap that label on you, and then just as eager to predict your downfall.· The spirited young woman who had been as eager for life as he was?· I was as eager to get out of that place as Jasper was.· At the end of the day the teacher was as eager to leave as the children.· Figaro seems as eager to bed his fiancee as does the Count Almaviva.· But she stood up as eager as Joan of Arc before the judges at her infamous trial.· Litchfield asked, and Sam nodded as he lit his cigarette, trying not to look as eager as he felt.
· Chameleon, ever eager to fit in?· Walsh, ever eager to stick his finger in some one else's pie, gravitated towards the foreign affairs discussion group.
· No one was more eager for life, and none better equipped to live it fully.· Crowds are larger and more eager to touch a president.· How much more eager those warriors would have been to contact a foe face to face.· There are many others who seem even more eager to hold on to the old century.· Newspapers and magazines are more eager than ever to get the shots that count.· He is more eager and able to expand our faith than we are to have it done.
· He was usually the person most eager to get the guillotine through.· Even the most eager activists of 1965 soon headed for the hills of Santa Barbara and the communes of Vermont.· Would-be homeowners and real estate agents are among the most eager to see an end to the crisis.· It was indeed the down-and-out who seemed most eager to hear the new message.· Tomato growers are some of the most eager gardeners there are, Bramhall observed.
· They and their colleagues are particularly eager to generate interest among the young.
· Oh, how could she have let herself be so easily tricked, so eager to believe that he had changed?· Y., so eager to espouse other causes, has thus far been uncharacteristically low key and ineffective.· Can not afford national advertising, so relies on verbal testimonials to expand business, so eager to please.· He had never in his life seen two men so eager to do business.· But why were they so eager to discourage visitors?· They were so innocent, so vulnerable, so eager to behave decently.· It was no wonder, on reflection, that Lorimer had been so eager to spend time in Cleo's irreverent company.· They looked so eager, so willing to be pleased.
· Many parents are only too eager to hand their child over to a babysitter and enjoy a well-earned night out.· I was afraid that if I appeared too eager, it might dawn on the woman she had made a terrible mistake.· She did not want to appear either too eager or too casual.· Was she not normal, was she too eager?· The managers may have been too eager to oblige.· There will always be some one only too eager to criticise your progress.· He'd left the time a bit tight deliberately, not wanting to arrive too early and therefore look too eager.
NOUN· With eager anticipation, though her clear golden-brown eyes held a hint of sadness, Luce Weston descended the steps.· For, as his master opened the kitchen door, there, in eager anticipation, stood Azor.· As in the latter case, the horse may be in eager anticipation of what is to come!
· No new fighters ever seemed to come now, no fresh and eager faces appeared in the Takali mess.· You should only see their eager faces how they brighten up when the Sisters come.
I was eager to get back to work as soon as possible. He’s a bright kid and eager to learn. She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. A crowd of eager young students were already waiting outside.eager for fans eager for a glimpse of the singer2eager beaver informal someone who is too keen and works harder than they should—eagerly adverb: They’re eagerly awaiting the big day.—eagerness noun [uncountable]: People were pushing each other out of the way in their eagerness to get to the front.