# keen

> English word · Adjective · IPA /kiːn/ · frequency rank #5,804

## Definitions
1. Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
2. Fierce, intense, vehement.
3. Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
4. Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
5. Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.
6. Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
7. Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.
8. Marvelous.
9. Brave, courageous; audacious, bold.

## Etymology
From Middle English kene (“bold, brave, sharp”), from Old English cēne (“keen, fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful; learned, clever, wise”), from Proto-Germanic *kōniz (“knowledgeable, skilful, experienced, clever, capable”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).
Cognate with Danish køn (“handsome, pretty”), Dutch kien (“smart, wise, able”), koen (“daring, valiant, doughty, courageous”), German kühn (“bold, daring, audacious, hardy, valiant, venturesome”), Icelandic kænn (“wise, crafty, clever, able”), Faroese kønur (“expert (in, on), experienced, skilful, able, capable”), Scots keen (“lively, brisk; avaricious”). Related to Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). More at cunning, can.

## Easily confused with
- **key** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-key)
- **ken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-ken)
- **kin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kin)
- **kun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kun)
- **Kev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kev)
- **kei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kei)
- **keg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-keg)
- **kew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kew)
- **ker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-ker)
- **keep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-keep)
- **knew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-knew)
- **kept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kept)
- **keys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-keys)
- **knee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-knee)
- **khan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-khan)
- **Kent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kent)
- **Kerr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kerr)
- **Kiev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kiev)
- **kemp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-kemp)
- **Klan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keen-vs-klan)

## Common misspellings (3)
`eken`, `keenn`, `kkeen`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/keen