eager
gb/ˈiɡɚ/ us/ˈiɡɚ/
B1
English
~ 1900
alig vár, lelkes, nagyon szeretne
B1
1
Usage pattern:
eager to [do something]
She was eager to start her new job.
Alig várta, hogy elkezdhesse az új munkáját.
The children were eager for the school trip to begin.
A gyerekek alig várták, hogy elkezdődjön az iskolai kirándulás.
He listened with eager attention.
Fans waited in eager anticipation for the concert.
I’m eager to hear your opinion.
Learner examples
I am eager to meet you.
Alig várom, hogy találkozzunk.
She is eager to learn English.
Nagyon szeretne angolul tanulni.
They are eager for the game.
We are eager to help.
He is eager to start.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'eager' with 'anxious'. 'Anxious' can mean worried, while 'eager' is positive and excited.
Meaning
Strongly wanting to do something
Collocations
eager to learn
|eager for success
|eager audience
|eager anticipation
|eager participant
Synonyms
keen (Slightly more formal; often used in British English.)
|
enthusiastic (Focuses more on excitement and energy rather than impatience.)
Antonyms
reluctant (Describes being unwilling or hesitant instead of wanting strongly.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Wanting very much to do or have something, usually soon.
Feeling a strong desire or enthusiasm to do or have something, often with impatience for it to happen soon.
Grammar
Dictionary form
eager
IPA
GB/ˈiɡɚ/
US/ˈiɡɚ/
Syllables & stress
eager (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (eager)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: eager
Word family
Expressions
eager anticipation
1/ˈiɡɚ æntˌɪsɪpˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Strong positive expectation
A feeling of great excitement and looking forward to something happening soon.
Examples
- The crowd waited in eager anticipation for the show to start.
- The book was greeted with eager anticipation by fans around the world.
- He opened the letter in eager anticipation.
- The children waited in eager anticipation for the fireworks to start.
eager beaver
1/ˈiɡɚ bˈivɚ/
idiom
informal
Very keen and hardworking person
A person who works very hard and wants to do many things, sometimes too much.
Examples
- She’s such an eager beaver—always volunteering for extra work.
- Our new assistant is an eager beaver who always arrives early and stays late.
- Don’t be such an eager beaver; take a break sometimes.
- Don’t be such an eager beaver; you’ll burn yourself out.
- Teachers usually like eager beavers because they do extra work and ask a lot of questions.