Word family noun keenness adjective keen adverb keenly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishkeenkeen1 /kiːn/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective 1 want something especially British English wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much SYN eagerkeen to do something He told me that he was keen to help.keen on doing something I wasn’t keen on going there on my own.keen for something to happen The government is keen for peace talks to start again.keen that The chairman is keen that the company should expand its product range.2 → be keen on somebody/something3 hobby/interest especially British EnglishENJOY/LIKE DOING somethingENTHUSIASTIC someone who is keen on something is very interested in it or enjoys doing it very much a keen photographer keen golferskeen on Daniel’s very keen on tennis.mad keen on something (=very keen on something) spoken I was mad keen on dinosaurs when I was little. She takes a keen interest in politics and current affairs.4 eager to work/learn someone who is keen is eager to work or learn, and enjoys doing it keen students The kids in my class are all very keen. She was new in the job and keen as mustard (=very keen).5 sight/smell/hearingGOOD/EXCELLENT a keen sense of smell or keen sight or hearing is an extremely good ability to smell etc Dogs have a very keen sense of smell. She has a keen eye for (=is good at noticing) talent.6 mindINTELLIGENT someone with a keen mind is quick to understand things a keen understanding of commerce With her keen mind and good business sense, she soon became noticed. 7 feeling a keen feeling is one that is strong and deep As she walked away, Joe felt a keen sense of loss.8 competitionCOMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEAT used to describe a situation in which people compete strongly We won the contest in the face of keen competition.9 → be keen on somebody10 sharp literarySHARP a keen knife or blade is extremely sharp11 wind old-fashionedCOLD a keen wind is cold and strong12 prices British English keen prices are low —keenly adverb I was keenly aware of the dangers. —keenness noun [uncountable]GrammarYou are keen on something or keen on doing something: We’re all very keen on sports. ✗Don’t say: We’re all very keen of sports.Examples from the Corpus
keen• She hasn't much experience but she's very keen.• Goethe was a keen amateur geologist.• Sam was also a keen and talented naturalist.• He had a keen brain and he spotted instantly that as addresses went this one was on the vague side.• a keen eye for detail• Parr's thin, keen face had narrowed, strangely.• a keen interest in science• Greg has a keen mind.• If you're so bloody keen on accuracy, let's be accurate about this.• There are plenty of after-school opportunities for people who are keen on athletics.• He remained keen on jiving and would throw himself all over the place, hair wild and eyes sparkling.• They are also quite keen on marijuana, feel most masculine during sport and are least inclined to admire Nigel Mansell.• My parents have always been keen on travelling, whenever they get the chance.• Chris is a keen photographer - he's won several competitions.• Paul, a keen sportsman, prided himself on his level of fitness.• Originally from Plymouth, she was a very keen squash and tennis player before suffering a knee injury at skiing.• Coming from the disciplines of law, economics and politics, they were all keen supporters of the consumer movement.• Gabby was obviously anxious to do well, and Jane was keen to help her.keen that• We were keen that a comprehensive district based service must be provided.• These days judges are keen that children should see and remain close to both parents after divorce.• Alexis and Paul Gilmour are keen that everyone in Holybourne who wishes to sign the petition can do so.• Everyone was really keen that I should enjoy their area and I certainly did.• The author was keen that neither himself nor his readership should be considered prejudiced.• She is equally keen that they should have black role-models.• The Department of Health is also keen that this formula should be used as the basis for sub-regional distribution.a keen interest in• He has a keen interest in contemporary music and is a founder member of the ensemble Capricorn.• Surprisingly, modelling is not a career Chantelle wants to follow, expressing instead a keen interest in learning languages.• He has a keen interest in popular music and the developing laws and rights in respect of musical performers and songwriters.• Bodnar took a keen interest in the appearance of various samples.• They took a keen interest in the color and the appearance of the brickwork on the building.• Hardy took a keen interest in their production, although, with two exceptions, the plays themselves were not his work.• Some people have expressed surprise at learning the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is taking such a keen interest in welfare reform.keen as mustard• Sharp, hungry, keen as mustard.• He was as keen as mustard, and as Doctor Faustus.a keen eye for• But with being a keen golfer, I developed a keen eye for a golf ball and a distance.• First, each has a keen eye for talent.a keen sense of• But she too had a keen sense of making the best of whatever was given.• But his good-ore-boy mannerisms hide a keen sense of opportunity.• By all accounts, Rajoub is a pragmatist with a keen sense of planning and organization.• Now he showed a keen sense of priorities, and, as vital, an ability to delegate.• She was mourned both for who she was and what she represented-a passionate idealism grounded in a keen sense of reality.• We feel a keen sense of responsibility for the sick and needy.• Alexander, of course, had a keen sense of the value of my commentary.• There is a third eyelid for a keen sense of vision.keen competition• Within seconds, though, I felt a keen competition.• Both sales saw keen competition for the more interesting lots.• Early impressions suggest that there could be keen competition to provide such a service - if the money can be found!keenkeen2 verb [intransitive] old useSAD/UNHAPPY to sing a loud sad song for someone who has died→ See Verb tableFrom Longman Business Dictionarykeenkeen /kiːn/ adjective1if competition is keen, people are trying very hard to get an advantage over others doing the same thingBusiness has become scarcer, competition keener and profit margins slimmer.These properties are likely to attractkeen bidding in a buoyant property market. —keenly adverbthe keenly-competitive pasta sauce market2British English keen prices, rates etc are low when compared to competitors’ prices etcLondon’s present system provideskeen prices for actively traded stocks.the opportunity to achieve the keenest interest rates3if someone is keen, they are very eager or interested in doing somethingInvestors already have shown keen interest in the $100 million issue.keen onJapanese investors are keen on obtaining more foreign assets.keen to do somethingThe Swiss group is said to be keen to buy a stake in the company. —keenly adverbHe is keenly interested in a possible deal.Origin keen Old English cene 