avid

American  

[av-id] / ˈæv ɪd /

adjective

1. showing great enthusiasm for or interest in.

   an avid moviegoer.

   Synonyms:

   fanatic, zealous, dedicated, devoted, keen, ardent, enthusiastic

   Antonyms:

   reluctant, apathetic, indifferent

2. extremely desirous; eager; greedy (often followed by for or sometimesof ).

   avid for pleasure; avid of power.

   Synonyms:

   rapacious, covetous, insatiable, hungry

   Antonyms:

   loath, disdainful

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avid British  

/ ˈævɪd /

adjective

1. very keen; enthusiastic

   an avid reader

2. (postpositive; often foll by for or of) eager (for); desirous (of); greedy (for)

   avid for revenge

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Related Words

Avid, eager, keen all share the sense of strongly desirous. Avid suggests a desire akin to greed, so strong as to be insatiable: driven by an avid need for fame and recognition. Eager implies a desire that is strong and impatient but less than overpowering: eager to try his hand at new tasks. Keen carries a sense of zest and active, alert desire: an amateur painter, ever keen to try new techniques.

Pop Culture

—Avid: A non-linear video editing system developed by Avid Technology, Inc. Best known in the film and video production industry are the Media Composer and Pro Tools video and sound editing software. The Avid editing system was used to edit films such as Iron Man 2, 2012, and Hurt Locker, among many others. Pro Tools was used for the sound edit and mix of Avatar. —AVID: acronym for Advancement Via Individual Determination. A teaching system designed to help underachieving students with high academic potential prepare for entrance to colleges and universities. The system was developed in 1980 by Mary Catherine Swanson, an English teacher from San Diego. —AVID: acronym for American Veterinary Identification Devices. These are microchips that are permanently implanted in a pet to be used for the animal's identification.

Other Word Forms

• avidly adverb
• avidness noun
• unavid adjective
• unavidness noun

Etymology

Origin of avid

First recorded in 1760–70; from French avide, from Latin avidus, equivalent to av(ēre) “to crave” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Explanation

Avid usually means very eager or enthusiastic. If you're an avid reader, it means you read as much as you can, whenever you can. But this adjective can also mean wanting something so much that you can be thought of as greedy. For example, a person can be avid for success or power. Avid is from French avide, from Latin avidus, from avere "to desire, crave."

Example Sentences

A writer by day and an avid concertgoer by night, I relied for years on Spotify to provide my soundtrack and introduce me to new bands.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

Melissa Newman, a business professor who’s an avid cruiser, is starting to see some cracks in the industry she loves: Some cruise-goers, including repeat travelers, are saying cruising doesn’t feel special anymore.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

As an avid racing fan, Turner views the Festival as "the pinnacle of the sport" but also understands why some regard it as a "no-brainer" to go abroad.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

An avid gardener, she enjoyed making salsa with her son using homegrown tomatoes and peppers, her husband said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

“I’d be extremely flattered if you’d write a story exclusively for me sometime. I’m an avid reader.”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• ardent
• devoted
• eager
• fanatical
• fervent
• hungry
• impatient
• insatiable
• keen
• passionate
• ravenous
• thirsty
• voracious
• zealous