eager

EE-gur/ˈiɡɚ/UKEE-guh/ˈiːɡə/

As a nounAY-gur

Verbeagers, eagering, eagered

9 meanings of eager

Practice

1
adjective
Wanting very much to do or get something.
Like a kid who can't wait to open a gift.
The eager puppy jumped at the door, ready for its walk.
She was eager to open her birthday presents.
Similarkeen, enthusiastic, avid, impatient, anxious
Oppositereluctant, unwilling, indifferent, apathetic
Note
2
adjective
Working out a result right away, instead of waiting until it is needed.
Like doing all your homework the moment you get it, instead of waiting until it's due.
An eager calculation finds the answer immediately, even if no one uses it yet.
The program is eager, so it works out each result the moment it can.
Similarstrict
Oppositelazy
Note
3
adjectivedated
Easily broken, snapping instead of bending.
Like dry spaghetti that snaps instead of bending.
The blacksmith complained that the cheap iron was eager and snapped under the first blow.
gold itself will be sometimes so eager, (as artists call it), that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself
1689, [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane UnderstandingHere, eager means brittle, breaking instead of bending when hammered.
Similarbrittle
Oppositemalleable, ductile, flexible
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4
verbintransitive
To feel or grow keen and excited about something.
Like a dog that gets excited when it sees its leash.
Whenever the bell rings, the students eager toward the playground.
The crowd eagered for the gates to open before dawn.
Similarhanker, yearn, long, thirst
Note
5
verbintransitive
To show that you are keen, by what you say or do.
Like clapping and cheering when you really want something.
The dogs eager at the door, whining for their walk.
She eagered loudly when the prizes were announced.
Similarenthuse
Note
6
verbtransitive
To make someone keen or excited to do something.
Like a teacher who gets the whole class excited about a trip.
The coach tried to eager his players before the big match.
Bright posters eagered the children for the school fair.
Similarencourage, motivate, inspire, excite, spur
Oppositediscourage, deter, dishearten
Note
7
noun
Alternative form of eagre. It means a large wave that rushes up a river as the tide comes in.
The eager swept up the river mouth as the tide turned.
Crowds gathered to watch the eager roll inland each spring.
Note

Less common meanings

8
adjectiveobsolete
Having a sharp, sour taste.
Like biting into a lemon.
The eager cider made her mouth pucker.
like eager droppings into milk
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, eager means sour or acidic to the taste.
Note
9
adjectiveobsoletefiguratively
Sharp and biting, like very cold air or harsh, cutting feelings.
It is a nipping and an eager air.
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, eager means sharp and biting, so the air is very cold.
If so thou thinkest, vex him with eager words.
c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, eager means sharp and cutting, so harsh, biting words.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of eager apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Old French from Latin, from a word meaning "sharp, keen."