Keen

easyPositive tone

KEEN

adjective

Definition

Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm; sharp or penetrating

Memory hook

A KEEN blade cuts precisely - keen interest or keen perception is similarly sharp and eager.

See more GRE words with mnemonics.

Examples

She showed keen interest in the project.
His keen eye for detail made him an excellent editor.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

She showed ______ interest in the project.
Show answer

keen

Synonyms

eagersharpacuteavid

Antonyms

indifferentapatheticdullobtuse

Categories

View all Enthusiasm words

GRE Tip

Keen is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "eager" or "sharp" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "indifferent".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

Related GRE Words

Master keen and 1,000+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.