Words / B1

KEEN/kiːn/

Keen means eager: keen to apply; keen on football; a keen interest. Enthusiastic is a close twin; eager is similar. Keen can also mean sharp (a keen sense of smell) or low prices (keen prices) in business. Do not say “I am keen for going” — use keen to + verb or keen on + noun. Not keen is a polite UK no.

Meaning

Very interested, eager, or enthusiastic (keen on / keen to).

Examples

• “He is keen to apply for the graduate scheme.”
• “She is keen to move into the research team.”
• “He is not keen on night shifts, which is a polite refusal.”

Good to know

keen to + verb; keen on + noun. Close: eager / enthusiastic. Polite no: not keen. Also: keen prices (business).

Near in meaning

eager

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