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⇱ keener - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


keener

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈkiːnə/

From keen (adj):
keener
adj comparative
keenest
adj superlative

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
keener /ˈkiːnə/ n
  1. Canadian informal a person, esp a student, who is keen, enthusiastic, or zealous
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
keen1 /kin/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est. 
  1. finely sharpened;
    so shaped as to cut or pierce readily:a razor with a keen edge.
  2. sharp, piercing, or biting:a keen wind.
  3. very sensitive, responsive, or alert:a keen sense of hearing; a keen mind.
  4. having great ability to see clearly and understand;
    astute:a keen observer of human nature.
  5. intense:keen competition for the job.
  6. eager;
    interested;
    enthusiastic: [+ to + verb][usually: be + ~]I was very keen to go swimming.[+ on/about]He was very keen on football.
  7. interested in romantically:[be + ~ + on]not keen on anyone special at the moment.
  8. Slang Termsgreat;
    wonderful:a keen new bike.
keen•ly, adv. : felt the loss keenly.
keen•ness, n. [uncountable]]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
keen1  (kēn),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est. 
  1. finely sharpened, as an edge;
    so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily:a keen razor.
  2. sharp, piercing, or biting:a keen wind; keen satire.
  3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception;
    extremely sensitive or responsive:keen eyes; keen ears.
  4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen:keen reasoning; a keen mind.
  5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire:keen competition.
  6. intense, as feeling or desire:keen ambition; keen jealousy.
  7. eager;
    interested;
    enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive):She is really keen on going swimming.
  8. Slang Termsgreat;
    wonderful;
    marvelous.
  • bef. 900; 1930–35 for def. 8; Middle English kene, Old English cēne; cognate with German kühn, Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse kœnn wise, skillful
keenly, adv. 
keenness, n. 
    1. 4. See sharp. 2. cutting, bitter, caustic. 3. piercing, penetrating, acute. 4. discerning, acute, astute, sagacious, shrewd, clever. 5. See avid. 7. earnest, fervid.
    1. 3. 4. dull.

keen2  (kēn),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a wailing lament for the dead.

v.i. 
  1. to wail in lamentation for the dead.

v.t. 
  1. to bewail or lament by or with keening.
  • Irish caoine (noun, nominal), caoin- (verb, verbal, stem of caoinim) lament
  • 1805–15
keener, n. 

'keener' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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