Word of the day · 7 August 2026
keen
/kiːn/
adjective
Sharp, intense or eager; highly developed in sensing or interest.
In a sentence
- She kept a keen eye on the budget line by line.
- The knife was keen enough to slice tomatoes thin.
- He is keen to learn the craft, not only to watch it.
In an image
Origin
From Old English cēne (bold, brave, sharp), from Germanic roots.
History
Keen covered bravery and sharpness in early English. Later senses added eagerness and acute perception (a keen eye, a keen interest). In some dialects it still means excellent. The word stays useful because one short adjective can cover blade, mind and appetite.
Nearby words
sharp · eager · acute
Edges, appetites and attention that cut clean.