eager

[ ee-ger ]

adjective

1. keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longing:

   I am eager for news about them. He is eager to sing.

   Synonyms: interested, desirous, enthusiastic

   Antonyms: uninterested, indifferent, apathetic

2. characterized by or revealing great earnestness:

   an eager look.

   Synonyms: earnest, intense, intent, fervid, zealous, fervent

   Antonyms: negligent, heedless

3. Obsolete. keen; sharp; biting.

eager

¹

/ ˈiːɡə /

adjective

1. postpositive; often foll by to or for impatiently desirous (of); anxious or avid (for)

   he was eager to see her departure

2. characterized by or feeling expectancy or great desire

   an eager look

3. archaic.
   tart or biting; sharp

eager

²

/ ˈeɪɡə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of eagre

Derived Forms

• ˈeagerly, adverb
• ˈeagerness, noun

Other Words From

• ea·ger·ly adverb
• ea·ger·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of eager¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English egre, from Anglo-French, Old French egre, aigre, from Vulgar Latin (unattested) ācrus for Latin ācer “sharp”

Word History and Origins

Origin of eager¹

C13: from Old French egre, from Latin acer sharp, keen

Synonym Study

See avid.

Example Sentences

Companies such as Fox Television Stations, Nexstar Media Group, Tegna and Gray Media are eager to buy more TV stations to better compete against deep-pocketed tech firms that are aggressively pursuing viewers and ad dollars.

From Los Angeles Times

"For our new study, we were eager to use live brain tissue to preserve the dynamics, the natural compositions, and the localization of these proteins."

From Science Daily

Lurie’s winning strategy included daily walks through different neighborhoods to talk with shop owners, families and residents eager for someone to listen to their struggles.

From Los Angeles Times

In a recent email interview, he added that, “The auction will be the apex of its career. I’m eager to see what the answers will be.”

From New York Times

Smith, who still carries himself with the eager enthusiasm of a worship leader, no longer goes to church.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ambitious
• greedy
• hungry
• impatient
• keen
• restless
• thirsty