Eagerness
What it means
A strong, willing desire to begin, learn, or participate.
Reach for it when naming positive motivation before the action has fully started
His eagerness to improve showed in every careful question.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when cheerful energy colors the participation
Careful Zest describes spirited enjoyment, not specifically anticipation before beginning.
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everyday
Fits when strong interest is expressed in a restrained way
Careful Outside British usage, keenness may sound unusual or suggest sharpness.
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warm
Fits when lively interest continues during the activity
Careful Enthusiasm may concern an idea without creating readiness to act.
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professional
Fits when preparedness is more important than desire
Careful A person can be ready through obligation while feeling no eagerness.
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formal
Fits when voluntary consent deserves recognition
Careful Willingness is a lower emotional bar and may mean only absence of refusal.
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literary
appetite
Fits when desire for more experience or challenge is vivid
Careful The metaphor can sound acquisitive when the subject is service or care.
Opposites 4
- reluctance
- apathy
- indifference
- unwillingness
Common phrases 3
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eagerness to learn
Her eagerness to learn made the unfamiliar controls less intimidating.
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childlike eagerness
He approached the telescope with childlike eagerness and patient care.
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renewed eagerness
The early breakthrough gave the researchers renewed eagerness for the next trial.
Word family 2
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated