adj · name · noun · verb · 22 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/kiːn/
General-American:kēn
General-American:/kin/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːn
homophone: Keane
homophone: Keene
CMU ARPABET:K IY1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Commonwealth
Examples
I’m keen on computers.
I’m keen on you.
She’s keen to learn another language.
“Do you want to go on holiday with me?” “Yes, I’m keen.”
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ardent, eager, prompt
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Fierce, intense, vehement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
This boy has a keen appetite.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sharp
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful; learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh3- (“to know”). Cognate with Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Dutch kien (“smart, wise, able”), koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”), Faroese kønur (“expert (in, on), experienced, skilful, able, capable”), Scots keen (“lively, brisk; avaricious”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.
From Irish caoin (“to lament, keen”).
Across languages
Translations
106 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Amharic:
ንቁ
(nəḳu)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Bulgarian:
енергичен
(energičen)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Bulgarian:
ревностен
(revnosten)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Catalan:
entusiasta
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Chinese Mandarin:
熱衷於 /热衷于
(rèzhōng yú)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Chinese Mandarin:
樂意 /乐意
(lèyì)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Chinese Mandarin:
渴望
(kěwàng)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Danish:
ivrig
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Estonian:
innukas
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Estonian:
usin
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Estonian:
agar
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Galician:
entusiasta
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Georgian:
ცხოველი
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
German:
scharf
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
German:
kühn)
(daring)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
German:
verwegen (temerarious)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
German:
leidenschaftlich
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Hindi:
उत्सुक
(utsuk)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Icelandic:
áhugasamur
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
propenso
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
incline
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
entusiasta
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
pronto
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
desideroso
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
voglioso
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
disposto
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
intenzionato
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Italian:
preparato
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Kyrgyz:
курч
(kurc)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Kyrgyz:
кескин
(keskin)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Kyrgyz:
катуу
(katuu)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Macedonian:
расположен
(raspoložen)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Norwegian Bokmål:
ivrig
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Norwegian Nynorsk:
ivrig
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Occitan:
afogat
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Occitan:
entosiasta
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Occitan:
estrambordat
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Old English:
cēne
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Russian:
проница́тельный
(pronicátelʹnyj)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Russian:
сообрази́тельный
(soobrazítelʹnyj)
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Scottish Gaelic:
èasgaidh
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
entusiasta
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
ardoroso
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
fijo
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
motivado
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
interesado
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Spanish:
entusiasmado
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Turkish:
düşkün
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Turkish:
hevesli
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
Turkish:
istekli
— showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness
