be keen to v — to be very interested in or enthusiastic about doing something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to be very interested in or enthusiastic about doing something
Pronunciation (IPA): /biː kiːn tuː/
Example Sentences
- My cat is keen to knock over everything on my desk, especially during important video calls.
- He's keen to impress his date, so he practiced eating spaghetti gracefully for three hours.
- The company is keen to expand into international markets.
be keen to v
NOUN[/biː kiːn tuː/]
to be very interested in or enthusiastic about doing something
The young violinist is keen to perform at her very first recital tonight.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'keen' derives from Old English 'cene', which originally meant 'brave' or 'bold'. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe something sharp or piercing, and later extended to mean 'eager' or 'enthusiastic' in modern English.
Breakdown
Old English 'cene' (brave, bold) → Middle English 'keen' → Modern English 'keen' (sharp, eager). The semantic shift reflects a metaphorical extension from physical sharpness to intellectual or emotional intensity.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat is keen to knock over everything on my desk, especially during important video calls.”
“He's keen to impress his date, so he practiced eating spaghetti gracefully for three hours.”
“The company is keen to expand into international markets.”
“Students are keen to finish their assignments before the weekend.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.