Definition of Keen

keen (noun) - a funeral lament sung with loud wailing

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How can keen be used in a sentence?

  1. I have a certain keen sense of liberation, these days.

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  2. "They've got what they call a keen sense of humour, you know."

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  3. The party in keen to get Lib Dems blogging but it takes courage.

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  4. I know well how keen is Toronto's interest in Imperial questions.

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  5. My first surprise was to find him described as a keen, all-round sportsman.

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  6. There is, for example, what Morgan calls a keen awareness of human presence.

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  7. Many will still recall the keen rivalry that existed between the famous firms,

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  8. James was described as a keen hunter and hiker who was a "natural" outdoors man.

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  9. Thomas, who is not what I call keen about golf, preferred to remain before the fire.

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  10. The former fighter pilot is known as a keen intellect and savvy bureaucratic insider.

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  11. Sapper Foster, described as a keen chef, enlisted into the Royal Engineers in September

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  12. Mrs Burgess, who was not accused of wrongdoing, was described as a keen tennis player and a

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  13. Until his illness, Mr Allan, 58, was fit and active and known as a keen runner, sailor and cyclist.

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  14. Being a very brilliant singer himself, he was never what you might call keen to take in a new member.

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  15. In fact it may surprise you to know that Underwriters at Lloyd's are in keen competition with one another.

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  16. 'Hm,' said Mirabel, rather disbelievingly, for Antoinette could not by any means have been called keen on games.

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  17. From behind a large oak a keen, racy-looking fellow stepped forth, and, leveling his cavalry carbine, called "Halt!"

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  18. Crooks was described as a keen soldier, an excellent athlete who "would do anything for you without even being asked."

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  19. To and fro, up and down over the ruined bank I passed; the wind blew cool and keen from the west, though the sky was smiling.

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  20. Japan's prime minister is expressing what he calls keen remorse and heartfelt apologies for his country's role in World War II.

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  21. This effort has been called keen, clever, but untimely, tending rather to set people by their ears than to save them from their sins.

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  22. It was still raining in torrents after lunch, and Thomas, who is not what I call keen about golf, preferred to remain before the fire.

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  23. Finally resuming the chair at my desk I feel in keen sympathy with my fellow-creatures, for I seem to see clearly again that all are akin.

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  24. Milos is the latest classical artist to be given the rock star treatment by a major label keen to replicate the enormous success of Andre Rieu.

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  25. He was described as a keen parachutist and surfer from his early life in Newcastle, as well as an avid "bird watcher" on Perth's Cottesloe Beach.

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  26. His penetrating intuition was so clear and true and his grasp of the problem so keen from the start that none of his original ideas had to be revised.

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  27. I can see them now, great white stars, and tangles of little ones, among a bank of green; and I can recall the keen, fresh scent on the warm air; and the look of

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  28. Leaving aside for the moment the oddity of terming a keen grasp of reality as approximating something close to a "worldview", I had a curious look at the articles.

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  29. He recalled the keen competition of the old days when to be "head of the class" seemed the highest honour within mortal reach, and was striven after with might and main.

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  30. And Shefford, with time on his hands and poignant memory to combat, decided to recall his keen interest in the Navajo, and learn, if possible, what the Indian's life was like.

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  31. In beautiful harmony, while the child had forgotten herself in keen sympathy with her grandfather's sorrows, he, on the other hand, had half lost sight of them in caring for her.

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  32. His complexion was Italian; [28] his expression keen; his nose long, prominent; his mouth small, fine cut, and mobile; his eyes hazel, and penetrative; his skull a model for the sculptor.

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  33. Miss Roberts, who used the name Shana Pepper on social network websites, had been in a five-year relationship with Foster who worked as a builder for five years and was known as a keen dancer.

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  34. I can see them now, great white stars, and tangles of little ones, among a bank of green; and I can recall the keen, fresh scent on the warm air; and the look of Beatrice ... her great dark eyes.

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  35. So keen is it to draw a parallel between the two periods that it shows a black-and-white photograph of a US tank in Saigon, artfully juxtaposed with a contemporary picture of an American tank in Baghdad.

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  36. At the same time she had not keen, she had only absorbing feelings of her rights; there was nothing _keen_ in lady Ann; neither sense nor desire, neither hope nor fear, neither joy nor sorrow, neither love nor hate.

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  37. In fact, he was somewhat above the average in memory and comprehension and may be described as keen, but it was difficult for him to keep his attention consistently on any subject, and the discipline of school irked him.

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  38. I know you must regret the beautiful scenery you have left; especially as all you have thought and felt in that period of life when the thoughts are most lively, and the feelings most keen, is inseparably associated with it.

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  39. He could not even clearly recall the keen troubles and mortifications he had endured: all things were so peaceful and beautiful that a portion of their peace and beauty fell upon men and invested them with a more kindly character.

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  40. We remain keen to support the successful introduction of HD services on the DTT platform and are willing to consider a further round of consultation on the licence amendment if you could provide more information and evidence in the following three areas:

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  41. There were other reasons behind the production's power, namely the keen directorial eye of Mr. Lazar and Ms. Parson and the staggering talent of the cast, including the wickedly funny David Neumann, whose new work will have its premiere at the Kitchen in March.

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  42. A whistle, a jerk, and the two waking parts of me are asleep again, while the third wakes up to mount guard over them, and keeps me deliciously aware of the rhythmic dream they are dreaming about the hot bath and the clean linen, and the lovely breakfast that I am to have at Aberdeen; and of the Scotch air, crisp and keen, that is to escort me, later along the Deeside.

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Tips for Using keen in a Sentence

You may have an easier time writing sentences with keen if you know what words are likely to come before or after it, or simply what words are often found in the same sentence.

Frequent Predecessors

Words that often come before keen in sentences. For example: "a keen" or "the keen"

  • a
  • the
  • and
  • his
  • was
  • very
  • so
  • with
  • of
  • were

Frequent Successors

Words that often come after keen in sentences. For example: "keen to" or "keen interest"

  • to
  • interest
  • on
  • and
  • sense
  • eye
  • .
  • as
  • eyes
  • observer

Associated Words

Words that aren't necessarily predecessors or successors, but are often found in the same sentence.

  • eyesight
  • sportsman
  • diurnal
  • golfer
  • gardener
  • enthusiast
  • supporter
  • follower
  • smell
  • interest

Alternate Definitions

  • keen (adjective) - having a sharp cutting edge or point
  • keen (noun) - a loud lamentation made over the dead; a wailing
  • keen (noun) - the angle to which the wire tooth of card-clothing is bent between the foundation material and the point
  • keen (transitive verb) - to sharpen; to make cold
  • keen (adjective) - sharp; having a fine edge or point
  • keen (adjective) - acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness
  • keen (adjective) - bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe
  • keen (adjective) - piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc
  • keen (adjective) - eager; vehement; fierce
  • keen (adjective) - wonderful; delightful; marvelous
A sentence using keen