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eager

eager

447 1.0
Wanting very much to do or have something and showing strong interest
  • adjective
  • /ˈiːɡər/
translation icon : deseoso
  • And I sat there ready, eager to learn.
  • eager to please
  • eager to join
  • an eager audience

So I wouldn't be quite so eager to endorse that one.

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Examples

  • As with most any child, they all seem eager to master whatever is presented to them.

    Academic text (1991)
  • In today's world, many foreign students study English and are eager to communicate in that language.

    Academic text (1999)
  • I was just so eager to be in the big wide world.

  • And I know you guys are super eager to know what it is, but just trust me, OK?

  • I know you are eager to answer their calls, but your training is not yet complete.

  • Jack is behind his gun, watching the sky and eager to get into action.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • People are eager to learn those insights.

  • I was young and idealistic, eager to have an impact on the world.

  • And they were eager to discover what lay beyond their cozy little pond.

  • The children were eager to play outside after the rain stopped.

Synonyms

glad
vseager
1.0

Feeling pleased or happy about something

focuses on wanting or interest rather than simply feeling pleased
excited
vseager
1.0

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is more about a direct wish to act or obtain something
happy
vseager
888 1.0

Willing and ready to help or do something

is more about personal desire to do or have something than willingness
anxious
vseager
229 3.4

To want something to happen very much and feel impatient

is about wanting or interest without the worried or tense feeling
enthusiastic
vseager
175 2.7

Very excited and interested in something

is more about wanting to do or have something immediately
keen
vseager
85 2.3

Very eager to do or try something

focuses on immediate wanting to do or obtain something
avid
vseager
64 3.9

Very interested in something and excited to do it often

is more about a present desire to do or obtain something
ardent
vseager
38 6.3

Feeling very strong excitement or love for something

is less about deep passion and more about wanting to act or obtain
psyched
vseager
  • Informal
14 7.7

Very excited and eager about something

is a neutral term for wanting or interest rather than slang usage
impatient
vseager
11 3.4

Wanting to begin right away

is about wanting or interest without the restless inability to wait
hot to trot
vseager
  • Slang
4 8.7

Very eager to start or join an activity

is general wanting to do or have something rather than informal readiness
totally excited
vseager
  • Informal
2 1.6

Very happy and eager about something

is a general wanting or interest without extreme intensity
stoked
vseager
  • Slang
1 7.9

Feeling very excited about something good or fun

is the neutral term for wanting or interest not casual slang
hyped
vseager
  • Slang
1 5.5

Very excited about something, often before it happens

expresses general wanting or interest not tied to publicity
hyped about
vseager
  • Slang
1 7.9

Excited and eager about something new, like a game or event

is the neutral word for wanting or interest, not informal hype
raring
vseager
  • Informal
1 5.5

Very excited and ready to start

is about wanting to do or have something rather than readiness to start
appetent
vseager
9.9

Feeling a strong wish for something

is the common everyday word for wanting, not a formal longing
pumped
vseager
  • Informal
6.9

Very excited and full of energy about something

is about wanting or interest rather than energetic physical arousal
geeked
vseager
  • Slang
8.9

Feeling very excited and eager about something

is a neutral word for wanting or interest without that slang tone
totes excited
vseager
  • Slang
9.9

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is the neutral expression for wanting or interest, not slang
hyped for
vseager
  • Slang
6.8

Very excited about something that will happen

is about wanting or interest in general, not only future events

Antonyms

46 4.4

Not interested or showing no strong feeling about something

24 6.8

Not showing much interest or energy

Compounds

eager beaver
  • Informal
3 6.1

A person who is very willing to do extra work and works harder than others

How Eager

passionate
329 2.8
enthusiastic
175 2.7
keen
85 2.3
eager
447 1.0
interested
1.0

Surface Forms

eager positive
eagerer comparative
eagerest superlative

Etymology

Eager comes from an old French word meaning 'sharp' or 'keen', so it originally described a strong, pointed desire. A helpful way to remember it is to picture someone on the 'edge' of action because they want something so much, so eager means very keen or excited to do or have something.