keen

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kin/ UK /kiːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #4735

Meanings

1

adj
Very interested in or enthusiastic about something.

I'm really keen on computers.
2

adj
Quick to understand; intelligent and sharp.

She has a keen mind and notices every detail.
3

adj
Having a sharp edge or point.

He sharpened the knife until it had a keen blade.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · very interested in or... eager enthusiastic ardent

2 adj · quick to understand;... acute

3 adj · having a sharp edge or point. sharp

More intelligent penetrating shrewd

Word family

Forms enkeenkeenedkeenerkeenestkeeningkeens

Derived forms keen-wittedkeenly keennesskeenooverkeenunkeen

Related forms keener

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

keen sense
a sharply developed perception or awareness

Adjective + noun

Etymology

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 kee…

kene Middle English cēne Old English *kōniz Proto-Germanic *ǵneh₃- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# keen

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /kin/
**IPA (UK):** /kiːn/
**Frequency rank:** 4735

## Meanings
1. Very interested in or enthusiastic about something.
2. Quick to understand; intelligent and sharp.
3. Having a sharp edge or point.

## Examples
- I'm really keen on computers.
- She has a keen mind and notices every detail.
- He sharpened the knife until it had a keen blade.

## Synonyms
- intelligent
- penetrating
- shrewd

## Derived Forms
- keen-witted
- keenly
- keenness
- keeno
- overkeen
- unkeen

## Related Forms
- keener

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: kene
- Root: cēne
- Root: *kōniz
- Root: *ǵneh₃-

## Etymology
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 kee…

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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