First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
eager
adjective ea·ger \ˈē-gər\
: very excited and interested : feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something or for something
Full Definition of EAGER
2
: marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest
— ea·ger·ly adverb
— ea·ger·ness noun
See eager defined for English-language learners
See eager defined for kids
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Examples of EAGER
- … wine connoisseurs eager to visit cellars and late-fall pilgrims seeking the increasingly rare white truffle … —Corby Kummer, Atlantic, August 2000
- … so many religions were steeped in an absolutist frame of mind—each convinced that it alone had a monopoly on the truth and therefore eager for the state to impose this truth on others. —Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996
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Origin of EAGER
Middle English egre, from Anglo-French egre, aigre, from Latin acer — more at edge
Related to EAGER
- Synonyms
- agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, crazy, desirous, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, geeked [slang], great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked [slang], thirsty, voracious, wild, champing at the bit, chomping at the bit
- Antonyms
- apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic
Synonym Discussion of EAGER
eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest. eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint <eager to get started>. avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed <avid for new thrills>. keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action <keen on the latest fashions>. anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment <anxious not to make a social blunder>. athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action <athirst for adventure>.
EAGERNESS Defined for Kids
eager
adjective ea·ger \ˈē-gər\
Definition of EAGER for Kids
: very excited and interested <… bright eager eyes were looking up into hers … — Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland>
— ea·ger·ly adverb
— ea·ger·ness noun
Synonym Discussion of EAGER
eager, anxious, and keen mean having or showing a strong desire or interest. eager is used when there is much enthusiasm and often impatience. <Eager travelers waited for their train.> anxious is used when there is fear of failure or disappointment. <I was anxious to learn who won.> keen is used when there is great interest and readiness to act. <The new scouts are keen to learn.>
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