If you are eagerto do or have something, you want to do or have it very much.
Robert was eager to talk about life in the Army.
When my own son was five years old, I became eager for another baby. [+ for]
The low prices still pull in crowds of eager buyers.
Synonyms: anxious, keen, raring, hungry More Synonyms of eager
eagernessuncountable noun
...an eagerness to learn.
Synonyms: longing, anxiety, hunger, yearning More Synonyms of eager
2. adjective
If you look or sound eager, you look or sound as if you expect something interesting or enjoyable to happen.
Arty sneered at the crowd of eager faces around him.
Her voice was girlish and eager.
Synonyms: keen, interested, earnest, intense More Synonyms of eager
eagerlyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
'So what do you think will happen?' he asked eagerly.
eagernessuncountable noun
...a woman speaking with breathless eagerness.
Synonyms: passion, interest, enthusiasm, intensity More Synonyms of eager
eager in British English1
(ˈiːɡə)
adjective
1. (postpositive; often foll by to or for)
impatiently desirous (of); anxious or avid (for)
he was eager to see her departure
2.
characterized by or feeling expectancy or great desire
an eager look
3. archaic
tart or biting; sharp
Derived forms
eagerly (ˈeagerly)
adverb
eagerness (ˈeagerness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French egre, from Latin acer sharp, keen
eager in British English2
(ˈeɪɡə)
noun
a variant spelling of eagre
eager in American English1
(ˈigər)
adjective
1.
feeling or showing keen desire; impatient or anxious to do or get; ardent
2. Archaic
sharp; keen
SYNONYMY NOTE: eager1 implies great enthusiasm, zeal, or sometimes impatience, in the desire for a pursuitof something [eager to begin work]: avid suggests an intense, sometimes greedy, desire to enjoy or possess something [avid for power]; keen1 implies deep interest and a spirited readiness to achieve something [the team was keen on winning]; anxious, in this connection, suggests eagerness, but with some uneasiness over the outcome[anxious to excel]
Derived forms
eagerly (ˈeagerly)
adverb
eagerness (ˈeagerness)
noun
Word origin
ME egre < OFr aigre < L acer, sharp, acute, ardent, eager: see acid
eager in American English2
(ˈigər; ˈeɪgər)
noun
British
eagre
More idioms containing
eager
an eager beaver
Examples of 'eager' in a sentence
eager
Lunch arrives fresh and cheery and bright and eager to please.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not surprisingly, it was the leader visibly inspiring his troops to take on armies who won the admiration of young men eager for action.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are pacesetters, incredibly enthusiastic, eager to learn and bring a fresh view point to an organisation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are eager to sound off at the approach of anybody with a clipboard.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some sceptics suggest that investors are eager to look tough to head off government intervention over pay.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is eager to please and ready to surprise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She recalls waking up from the anaesthetic eager to see her new face.
The Sun (2008)
Too many players were looking for the percentage pass and too few eager to take a risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was eager to learn but was able to filter out the relevant from the superfluous.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She is eager to look after me.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They seemed eager to take their place in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Both sounded eager for the pleasantries to end.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is an interesting option for young adults eager to learn a new skill over the summer rather than simply sunbathe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They seemed eager to get together.
Christianity Today (2000)
Then they looked nervous but eager.
The Sun (2011)
He sounds surprisingly young and eager, almost boyish in his speech patterns.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Smiling and so eager to please, they tidy up their seats before leaving the stadium.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When we meet, he is eager to talk about the environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It's a minefield for the innocent but eager to please.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We were all exhausted from numerous matches with our host schools, but still eager to fly the flag.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Naturally we are still eager to improve its effectiveness in patients with cancer, and we have not yet run out of ideas.
Laszlo, John (MD) Understanding Cancer (1987)
In other languages
eager
British English: eager ADJECTIVE
If you are eagerto do something, you want to do it very much.
He was eager to talk about life in the Army.
American English: eager
Brazilian Portuguese: ávido
Chinese: 渴望的
European Spanish: impaciente
French: impatient
German: eifrig
Italian: desideroso
Japanese: 熱望する
Korean: 간절히 바라는
European Portuguese: ávido
Latin American Spanish: impaciente
Chinese translation of 'eager'
eager
(ˈiːɡəʳ)
adj
(= keen) 热(熱)切的 (rèqiè de)
eager to do急于(於)做 (jíyú zuò)
eager for渴望 (kěwàng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
very keen to have or do something
Robert was eager to talk about life in the Army.
Synonyms
anxious
I am anxious that there should be no delay.
keen
raring
hungry
I was hungry to be an actor.
intent
yearning
impatient
They are impatient for jobs and security.
itching
She is itching for a fight.
thirsty
zealous
Opposites
opposed
,
unconcerned
,
impassive
,
unenthusiastic
,
unambitious
2 (adjective)
Definition
very keen to have or do something
He looked at the crowd of eager faces around him.
Synonyms
keen
a keen amateur photographer
interested
He did not look interested.
earnest
Rupert was an earnest young man.
intense
Her reaction to the news was more intense than I had imagined.
enthusiastic
The band drew a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
passionate
He made a passionate speech about his commitment to peace.