keen

adjective

/kiːn/

(comparative keener, superlative keenest)

Idioms

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eager/enthusiastic

(especially British English) wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much synonym eager

keen to do something John was very keen to help.
keen for somebody/something to do something His father was keen for him to go to university.
He is keen for the deal to proceed.
keen that… We are keen that our school should get involved too.
keen on doing something I wasn't too keen on going to the party.

Extra Examples

She is extremely keen to remain with the police and we are equally keen to retain her.
The banks were not at all keen to lend to somebody who actually seemed to need money.
She was naturally keen to make a good impression.
She was always keen to hear the local gossip.
We are keen that Britain should get involved too.
They were desperately keen for information.
I waited a few days before putting in an offer on the property so as not to appear too keen.

Topics Feelingsb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

appear
be
look
…

adverb

extremely
fairly
very
…

preposition

phrases

as keen as mustard

See full entry

[usually before noun] (especially British English) enthusiastic about an activity or idea, etc.

a keen sportsman/gardener
one of the keenest supporters of the team
She was a star pupil—keen, confident and bright.

Topics Personal qualitiesb1

liking somebody/something

(British English, informal) liking somebody/something very much; very interested in somebody/something

They've been on a few dates together and Naomi seems really keen.
keen on somebody/something Tom's very keen on Anna.
He's particularly keen on football.
Sally's quite keen on the idea.
keen on doing something She's not keen on being told what to do.

Synonyms likelike

love
be fond of
be keen on something
adore

These words all mean to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard, or to enjoy something.

like
to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something:
- Do you like their new house?
- I like to see them enjoying themselves.
love
to like or enjoy something very much:
- He loved the way she smiled.
be fond of something
to like or enjoy something, especially something you have liked or enjoyed for a long time:
- We were fond of the house and didn’t want to leave.
be keen on something
(British English informal) (often used in negative statements) to like or enjoy something:
- I’m not keen on spicy food.
- She’s not keen on being told what to do.
adore
(informal) to like or enjoy something very much:
- She adores working with children.

love or adore?Adore is more informal than love, and is used to express a stronger feeling.Patterns

to like/love/be fond of/be keen on/adore doing something
to like/love to do something
to like/love something very much
I like/love/adore it here/there/when…
to like/love/adore the way somebody does something
to really like/love/adore somebody/something
to be really fond of/keen on something

Topics Preferences and decisionsb1

clever

[only before noun] quick to understand synonym sharp, acute

a keen mind/intellect

ideas/feelings

[usually before noun] strong or deep

a keen sense of tradition
He took a keen interest in his grandson's education.

senses

[only before noun] highly developed synonym sharp

Dogs have a keen sense of smell.
My friend has a keen eye for (= is good at noticing) a bargain.

competition

involving people competing very hard with each other for something

There is keen competition for places at the college.
They were keen rivals.
It was the subject of keen debate.

prices

(especially British English) kept low in order to compete with other prices synonym competitive

The company hopes its keen pricing policy will increase sales.

wind

(literary) extremely cold

knife

[usually before noun] (literary) having a sharp edge or point synonym sharp

Word Originadjective Old English cēne ‘wise, clever’, also ‘brave, daring’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koen and German kühn ‘bold, brave’. Current senses date from Middle English.

Idioms

(as) keen as mustard

(British English, informal) wanting very much to do well at something; enthusiastic

mad keen (on something/somebody)

(British English, informal) liking something/somebody very much; very interested in something
- He's mad keen on planes.