avidly

avidly — adverb

1. doing something — usually reading, watching, collecting, or following news or a

1.adverbC1
Definition

doing something — usually reading, watching, collecting, or following news or a hobby — with strong, sustained interest, as if you cannot get enough of it.

Example

Sofia avidly read every novel her favourite author had written, often finishing one in a single weekend.

verb + avidly with reading/consumption verbs

Fans of the show have been avidly following the trial on social media for weeks.

avidly + follow (news, story, sports)

Common collocations
  • avidly read
  • avidly follow
  • avidly collect
  • avidly watch
  • avidly listen
  • avidly pursue
  • avidly consume
Synonyms
  • eagerly

    more general; covers physical actions and short bursts of excitement, where 'avidly' sounds wrong.

  • enthusiastically

    wider range of verbs and a more outward, visible energy; 'avidly' suggests quieter, hungrier focus.

  • keenly

    similar register and feel; common in British writing, often paired with 'aware' or 'interested'.

  • voraciously

    stronger; almost only used with reading or consuming media, suggesting an even bigger appetite.

Antonyms
  • reluctantly

    shows unwilling or hesitant action — opposite of the keen interest 'avidly' carries.

  • indifferently

    shows lack of interest, where 'avidly' shows strong interest.

Grammar Patterns

verb + avidly

avidly + verb (modifying activity verbs of consumption or pursuit)

Usage Note

Strongly preferred with verbs of consuming information or pursuing interests (read, follow, watch, listen, collect, pursue). Sounds odd with verbs of action like 'run' or 'fight' — use 'eagerly' or 'fiercely' there instead. Tends to describe a steady, ongoing appetite rather than a single burst of excitement.

Common Mistakes

She avidly ran to the door.
She eagerly ran to the door.
'avidly' modifies activities of taking in or pursuing information, not physical bursts of speed.
He shouted avidly at the referee.
He shouted angrily at the referee.
'avidly' implies keen interest, not strong emotion or volume.

Word family

  • avid
    adjectiveC1
  • avidity
    nounC2
  • avidness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All five adverbs describe doing something with strong interest, but they fit different verbs and registers. 'Avidly' sits in formal or written English and is almost always paired with verbs of taking in information or pursuing a hobby — read, follow, watch, collect, listen. 'Eagerly' is the everyday word and works with almost any verb, including physical actions ('she eagerly ran outside'). 'Enthusiastically' adds an outward, visible energy — clapping, agreeing, joining in. 'Keenly' overlaps with 'avidly' but often modifies feelings or awareness ('keenly aware', 'keenly interested') rather than activities. 'Voraciously' is the strongest of the five and is mostly used about reading or consuming media. Compare: 'He avidly reads biographies' (steady appetite) vs 'She eagerly opened the gift' (single burst) vs 'They cheered enthusiastically' (loud, visible).

avidly ↗eagerly ↗enthusiastically ↗keenly ↗voraciously

Common collocations

Phrases

  • avidly read
  • avidly follow
  • avidly collect
  • avidly watch
  • avidly pursue
  • avidly consume
  • listen avidly
  • watch avidly

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English in the early 1800s by adding the adverb ending '-ly' to the adjective 'avid'. 'Avid' itself came into English from French 'avide', which traces back to Latin 'avidus' meaning 'longing for' or 'greedy', from the verb 'avere' ('to crave'). The same Latin root sits behind 'avarice', sharing the underlying idea of strong, hungry desire.