eagerness
C1Formal and Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A strong feeling of wanting to do or have something; keen enthusiasm.
A positive, anticipatory, and often impatient desire that manifests in readiness or active enthusiasm.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies not just desire, but an active, forward-leaning, and often impatient readiness. It is a state of positive excitement preceding an action or event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The word is used identically.
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties, suggesting commendable enthusiasm. No negative connotations.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun + for + Noun (eagerness for success)Noun + to-infinitive (eagerness to begin)Preposition + Noun (with eagerness)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Less common] Chomping at the bit (related expression indicating eagerness)”
- “Eager beaver (a person showing eagerness)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used in performance reviews or cover letters: 'She shows great eagerness to take on new challenges.'
Academic
Used to describe a researcher's or student's attitude: 'The scholar's eagerness to question established theories was admirable.'
Everyday
Describing anticipation for events or actions: 'The children waited with eagerness for the birthday party.'
Technical
Rarely used in highly technical contexts; more common in soft skills or pedagogical discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She eagered to start the project. (Note: 'eager' is not a verb; this is incorrect usage.)
American English
- He eagered after the promotion. (Note: 'eager' is not a verb; this is incorrect usage.)
adverb
British English
- The team worked eagerly to meet the deadline.
American English
- He nodded eagerly in agreement.
adjective
British English
- He was an eager participant in the workshop.
American English
- She gave an eager reply to the invitation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The puppy looked at the food with eagerness.
- She accepted the job offer with great eagerness.
- His eagerness to travel the world was evident from the maps on his wall.
- The diplomat's eagerness for a swift resolution sometimes led to concessions that wiser heads later regretted.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an EAGLE (EAG-) soaring high, always ready and keen to swoop down - that ready, keen state is EAGERNESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE/ENTHUSIASM IS A FORWARD PHYSICAL LEAN. (e.g., 'leaning into the task', 'forward-looking')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'нетерпение' when it means 'impatience' in a negative, annoyed sense. 'Eagerness' is positive.
- Do not confuse with 'жажда' (thirst), which is stronger and more metaphorical in English ('thirst for knowledge' is stronger than 'eagerness for knowledge').
- Not synonymous with 'энтузиазм' in all contexts; 'enthusiasm' is broader and can be more sustained.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe negative impatience (e.g., 'his eagerness for the meeting to end' - incorrect; use 'impatience').
- Confusing spelling: 'eagerNess', not 'eagerless'.
- Overusing as a synonym for simple 'interest'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'eagerness' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost exclusively positive, denoting enthusiastic readiness. Negative impatience is usually 'impatience'.
Often, yes, but 'eagerness' is more about the anticipatory desire *before* an action begins, while 'enthusiasm' can describe sustained energy throughout an activity.
The 'to-infinitive' clause is most common: 'eagerness to + verb' (e.g., eagerness to help, eagerness to start).
It is a mid-frequency word (C1 level), more common in written English than casual speech, where 'keenness' or simply 'really wanting to' might be used.
Explore