Eager — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈē-gər/ ea·ger

Meaning & Definition of Eager

Eager (adjective)

  1. marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest
  2. sharp
  3. sour

Eager (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. showing urgent desire or interest

    "Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis"

    similar: agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers (informal), crazy, desirous, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, geeked (slang), great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked (slang), thirsty, voracious, wild, champing at the bit, chomping at the bit
    related: engaged, interested, happy, hung up, obsessed, ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining, breathless, restive, restless, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing
    opposite: apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic
    near: casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Related Entry: Eager beaver (noun)

Eager beaver is a different word from Eager. The synonyms below are for eager beaver, not for eager.

  1. a person who is very enthusiastic about doing something; a hardworking and eager person

    "When she first started working she was a real eager beaver."

    similar: achiever, comer, doer, enterpriser, bootstrapper, go-ahead, go-getter, highflier, hummer, hustler, live wire, powerhouse, self-starter, he-man, individualist
    opposite: dawdler, idler, loafer, lounger, putterer, trifler, goldbrick, malingerer, procrastinator, shirker, slacker, drone, lazybones, sluggard, dallier, laggard, lingerer, loiterer, slowpoke, stick-in-the-mud, ignorer, ne'er-do-well, neglecter, daydreamer, dreamer, dropout, quitter

Related Entry: Eager beavers (noun)

Eager beavers is a different word from Eager. The synonyms below are for eager beavers, not for eager.

  1. a person who is very enthusiastic about doing something; a hardworking and eager person

    "When she first started working she was a real eager beaver."

    similar: achievers, comers, doers, enterprisers, bootstrappers, go-aheads, go-getters, highfliers, hummers, hustlers, live wires, powerhouses, self-starters, he-men, individualists
    opposite: dawdlers, idlers, loafers, loungers, putterers, triflers, goldbricks, malingerers, procrastinators, shirkers, slackers, drones, lazybones, sluggards, dalliers, laggards, lingerers, loiterers, slowpokes, stick-in-the-muds, ignorers, ne'er-do-wells, neglecters, daydreamers, dreamers, dropouts, quitters

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Eager

The most common words with a similar meaning to Eager:

Slang: geeked, stoked
Informal: bonkers
agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, crazy, desirous, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, thirsty, voracious, wild, champing at the bit, chomping at the bit

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Eager

Words with the opposite meaning of Eager:

apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic

Related Words for Eager

engaged, interested, happy, hung up, obsessed, ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining, breathless, restive, restless, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing

Near Antonyms of Eager

casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Word Forms of Eager

Derived words: eagerly (adverb), eagerness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Eager

Middle English egre, from Anglo-French egre, aigre, from Latin acer edge

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Eager

Words & Phrases Containing Eager

eager beaver

Frequently Asked Questions about Eager

What does "Eager" mean?

"Eager" means marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest.

What is another word for "Eager"?

Other words for "Eager" include agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers and crazy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Eager" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Eager"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Eager". Common alternatives include agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers, crazy, desirous and enthused.

What is the opposite of "Eager"?

Antonyms of "Eager" include apathetic, indifferent, uneager and unenthusiastic. Near antonyms include casual, incurious, insouciant and nonchalant.

How do you use "Eager" in a sentence?

Examples of "Eager" in a sentence: "Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis".

Is "Eager" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Eager" is an adjective.

Is "Eager" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Eager" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Eager"?

"Eager" is pronounced /ˈē-gər/ and divided into syllables as ea·ger.