[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/keen/)

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# keen

adjective (keen, keener, keenest)

«keen» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Keen means very eager or interested: «She is keen on football.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#m1)
2. Keen means sharp or strong: «keen eyesight», «a keen wind». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#m2)
3. (UK/Australia informal) Keen to do something means wanting to do it: «Are you keen?» = do you want to come? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday UK, Irish, Australian and NZ speech «keen» means interested or willing. In science, animals with keen senses (eagles' eyes) are described this way. Phrases: «keen on», «keen to», «a keen eye», «not keen».

### Examples

- He's keen on dinosaurs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x1)
- Are you keen to come to the park? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x2)
- Eagles have keen eyesight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x3)
- A keen wind blew across the beach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x4)
- I'm not keen on spinach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x5)
- She is a keen reader — two books a week! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x6)
- His keen eyes scanned the wide plain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/#x7)

### Note

«Keen on» + noun or -ing; «keen to» + verb. Not keen = doesn't like much (polite). Old sense «sharp» as in a keen blade.

## In Jewish tradition

In everyday UK, Irish, Australian and NZ speech «keen» means interested or willing. In science, animals with keen senses (eagles' eyes) are described this way. Phrases: «keen on», «keen to», «a keen eye», «not keen».

### Examples

- Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords. (Writings PSA.55.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/K/keen/#x1)

### Note

«Keen on» + noun or -ing; «keen to» + verb. Not keen = doesn't like much (polite). Old sense «sharp» as in a keen blade.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «keen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«keen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/keen.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «keen» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/K/keen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«keen» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/keen.html) on Mova free.