Eager vs. Keen: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Eager" implies an enthusiastic and impatient desire to do something, while "keen" suggests a sharp, intense, or excited interest in something.
Key Differences
Emotional Intensity: Eager often conveys a sense of enthusiastic anticipation or impatience for something, while keen implies a more intense, focused interest or enthusiasm.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Eager is commonly used to describe a strong desire or readiness to perform an action or participate in something, whereas keen might indicate a more profound or intellectually engaged interest.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
Eager may carry a more emotional or impatient tone, showing a strong personal desire, while keen often reflects a sharp, enthusiastic, and sometimes more thoughtful engagement with something.
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Nov 19, 2023
In practical situations, being eager might involve a readiness or impatience to act, while being keen could denote a deeper, more sustained interest or expertise.
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Nov 19, 2023
Eager is often perceived as more immediate and emotional, while keen can be seen as more enduring and intellectually oriented.
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Nov 19, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Emotional Tone
Often conveys impatience and enthusiasm.
Suggests sharp, intense interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
Context of Use
Used to express readiness or desire to act.
Indicates depth of interest or expertise.
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Nov 19, 2023
Duration of Feeling
May imply a more transient desire.
Often denotes a more sustained interest.
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Connotation
More emotionally driven desire.
Intellectual or focused enthusiasm.
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Common Usage
"Eager to learn" shows readiness to engage.
"Keen understanding" indicates depth of knowledge.
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Eager and Keen Definitions
Eager
Eager conveys a zealous or avid interest in something.
They were eager participants in the debate.
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Keen
Keen suggests enthusiasm combined with expertise.
They are keen birdwatchers.
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Eager
Eager implies enthusiasm and a strong desire to do something.
She was eager to start her new job.
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Eager
Having or showing keen interest, intense desire, or impatient expectancy. See Usage Note at anxious.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Keen
Sharp; vivid; strong
"His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting" (Richard Wright).
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Oct 19, 2023
Eager
Desirous; keen to do or obtain something.
Stacey is very eager to go cycling this weekend.
The hounds were eager in the chase.
I was eager to show my teacher how much I'd learned over the holidays.
You stayed up all night to get to the front of the queue. You must be very eager to get tickets.
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Oct 19, 2023
Eager
(comptheory) Not employing lazy evaluation; calculating results immediately, rather than deferring calculation until they are required.
An eager algorithm
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Keen
Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
I’m keen on computers.
She’s keen to learn another language.
“Do you want to go on holiday with me?” “Yes, I’m keen.”
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Oct 19, 2023
Eager
Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.
And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes.
How eagerly ye follow my disgraces!
When to her eager lips is broughtHer infant's thrilling kiss.
A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys.
Conceit and grief an eager combat fight.
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Oct 19, 2023
Eager
Brittle; inflexible; not ductile.
Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself.
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Keen
Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
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Eager
A high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)
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Keen
Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
A keen wind
The cold is very keen
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Eager
Having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy;
Eager to learn
Eager to travel abroad
Eager for success
Eager helpers
An eager look
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Eager
Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;
An avid sports fan
A great walker
An eager beaver
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Eager
Eager denotes an impatient longing or yearning.
He was eager for the concert to begin.
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Nov 19, 2023
Eager
Eager suggests an ardent and enthusiastic readiness.
She was eager to share her ideas.
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Nov 19, 2023
Eager
Eager expresses a keen desire or enthusiasm to act.
He was eager to help with the project.
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Nov 19, 2023
Keen
Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.
A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.
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Keen
Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
To make our wits more keen.
Before the keen inquiry of her thought.
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Keen
Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
Good father cardinal, cry thou amenTo my keen curses.
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Keen
Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; - applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.
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Keen
Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
So keen and greedy to confound a man.
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Keen
Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions;
An acute observer of politics and politicians
Incisive comments
Icy knifelike reasoning
As sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
Penetrating insight
Frequent penetrative observations
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Keen
Very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation;
An incisive mind
A keen intelligence
Of sharp and active intellect
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Oct 19, 2023
Keen
Very good;
He did a bully job
A neat sports car
Had a great time at the party
You look simply smashing
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Keen
As physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument;
A cutting wind
Keen winds
Knifelike cold
Piercing knifelike pains
Piercing cold
Piercing criticism
A stabbing pain
Lancinating pain
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Oct 19, 2023
Keen
Keen implies a sharp, intense, or enthusiastic interest.
She has a keen interest in history.
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Keen
Keen denotes an acute perception or discernment.
He demonstrated a keen understanding of the problem.
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Keen
Keen conveys an eager and intelligent enthusiasm.
She showed a keen awareness of social issues.
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Keen
Keen expresses a sharp eagerness or avidity.
He was keen to learn new languages.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can eager and keen be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but keen often implies a more focused intensity.
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Nov 19, 2023
Does keen always imply expertise?
Not always, but it often suggests depth of knowledge or interest.
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Can someone be eager but not keen?
Yes, one can be eager (enthusiastic) without being keenly interested or expert.
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Can eagerness turn into keenness over time?
Yes, initial eagerness can develop into a keen interest.
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Is eager more emotional than keen?
Generally, yes, eager is often more emotionally charged.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is eager more about the future, and keen about the present?
Eager often anticipates future action, while keen can denote current interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is eager used more in emotional contexts?
Often, eager is associated with more emotionally driven scenarios.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can someone be keenly aware without being eager?
Yes, one can have a keen understanding without eagerness to act.
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Nov 19, 2023
Do eager and keen have different connotations in a work setting?
Yes, eager may imply readiness to work, while keen can suggest a deep interest in the work.
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Nov 19, 2023
Do age and experience affect the use of eager vs. keen?
Possibly, as keen may suggest more mature or informed enthusiasm.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can keen imply a sense of sharpness or acuity?
Yes, keen often denotes sharpness in perception or understanding.
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Nov 19, 2023
Can someone be described as keenly eager?
Yes, combining the terms can express intense enthusiasm and interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
Does the context change the use of eager vs. keen?
Context can influence their use, especially in terms of depth or type of interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is keen a stronger word than eager?
Keen can imply a deeper, more intense interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
How do eager and keen differ in expressing interest?
Eager is more about eagerness to act, while keen is about depth of interest.
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Nov 19, 2023
Is eager more common in casual conversation?
It can be, as eager is often used in everyday emotional expressions.
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Nov 19, 2023
Are there any synonyms that closely match eager and keen?
Enthusiastic for eager; sharp or intense for keen.
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Nov 19, 2023
Do eager and keen have different origins?
Yes, their etymological roots differ, reflecting their nuanced meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 19, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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