keenly
keenly — adverb
1. Used before adjectives and passive emotion verbs to say a feeling or awareness i
Used before adjectives and passive emotion verbs to say a feeling or awareness is extremely strong. Someone who is keenly aware notices something very clearly, and a loss that is keenly felt causes deep sadness.
Amihan was keenly aware that her decision would affect the whole team.
keenly aware + that-clause
The loss of the family home was keenly felt by everyone in the neighbourhood.
passive: keenly felt
Lan was keenly disappointed when she did not get the scholarship she had applied for.
The old man was keenly sensitive to any change in the house where he had lived for forty years.
keenly sensitive + to + noun
- keenly aware
- keenly felt
- keenly disappointed
- keenly sensitive
Grammar Patterns
keenly + adjective
keenly + past participle (emotion verb)
Usage Note
Most common with the adjectives aware, disappointed, sensitive, and with passive verbs like felt, missed, regretted. Not used with action verbs (e.g. ❌ 'She ran keenly').
Common Mistakes
2. in a way that shows close attention to every detail while looking, listening, or
in a way that shows close attention to every detail while looking, listening, or examining something.
The detective watched the suspect's face keenly, looking for any sign of guilt.
verb of perception + keenly: watched keenly
Andrés read the contract keenly, checking every clause before signing.
Nia examined the old painting keenly, studying each brushstroke for clues about the artist.
Paul listened keenly to the instructions before starting the exam.
listened keenly + to + noun
- watch keenly
- observe keenly
- examine keenly
- listen keenly
Grammar Patterns
verb of perception + adverb
Usage Note
Common with verbs like watch, observe, study, examine, read, listen. The focus is on noticing small details that others might miss.
Common Mistakes
3. Describing how someone acts when they really want something to happen and show g
Describing how someone acts when they really want something to happen and show great interest. If you wait keenly for an event, your excitement shows in how you behave.
The children keenly waited for the ice cream truck to round the corner.
noun + keenly + verb: enthusiasm for a future event
Tamar keenly volunteered to help organise the community festival.
Darius keenly looked forward to his first day at the new school.
The young athletes keenly took part in every training session the coach organised.
keenly + verb of participation: took part
- keenly wait
- keenly volunteer
- keenly anticipate
- keenly participate
- eagerly
directly synonymous; interchangeable in most cases
- enthusiastically
suggests excitement and positive energy
- readily
suggests willingness without hesitation
- reluctantly
showing unwillingness
- half-heartedly
with little interest or effort
Grammar Patterns
verb + keenly
Usage Note
Describes how someone does something — the eagerness is visible in the action itself. Commonly used with verbs of participation: volunteer, join, take part, apply.
Common Mistakes
4. at a low price that is deliberately set to compete with similar products or serv
at a low price that is deliberately set to compete with similar products or services available from other sellers.
The supermarket chain offers keenly priced vegetables and fruit every morning.
collocation: keenly priced + noun
The hotel rooms were keenly priced compared to others in the city centre.
Caleb chose the keenly priced laptop over the more expensive brand for his studies.
The airline offers keenly priced tickets for passengers who book three months ahead.
keenly priced + noun: tickets
- keenly priced
- keenly competitive
- competitively
focuses on being priced similarly or better than rivals
- cheaply
more informal; does not imply competition
- expensively
priced above average with no competitive angle
Grammar Patterns
keenly + past participle (priced)
Usage Note
Almost exclusively used in the fixed expression keenly priced. Particularly common in British business writing and advertising. Rarely used with other past participles like sold or offered.