keenly
gb/kˈinli/ us/kˈinli/
B2
English
~ 5800
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a very intense way
Very strongly or sharply, especially when you feel or notice something a lot.
Usage pattern:
keenly [adjective/participle]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "keen" instead of "keenly" before adjectives or participles. Say "keenly aware" or "keenly felt," not *"keen aware" or *"keen felt." Also, do not use it for ordinary degree where "a little" or "quite" would be more natural.
Synonyms
acutely (emphasizes sharpness and intensity of feeling or awareness, very close in meaning to this sense of "keenly")
|
intensely (general word for very strong feeling or effort; slightly broader and less tied to awareness than "keenly")
Antonyms
slightly (shows that something is only a little true or felt, the opposite of the strong degree in "keenly")
|
barely (suggests something is almost not felt or noticed, contrasting with the strong awareness in "keenly")
Collocations
keenly aware
|keenly felt
|keenly sensitive
|keenly disappointed
|keenly conscious
Themes
emotions
|thinking
|perception
|health
Examples
- She was keenly aware of how much responsibility the new role carried.
- The loss of his mentor was keenly felt throughout the department.
- Many students are keenly conscious of the rising cost of education.
- He listened keenly, trying not to miss a single detail.
- The community remains keenly sensitive to issues of discrimination.
Learner examples
- She is keenly aware of her own mistakes.
- The family keenly felt the change in his mood.
- People are keenly conscious of the risk.
- He is keenly sensitive to loud sounds.
- The city is keenly aware of climate problems.
unknown
B2
property
2
with eagerness or enthusiasm
In a very eager and interested way.
Usage pattern:
to do [something] keenly
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put "keenly" in front of a noun, like *"keenly supporter". Use it with verbs: "keenly supports" or after the verb: "supports the team keenly." Also avoid using it where a simple "very" is more natural in spoken English.
Synonyms
eagerly (very close in meaning, but slightly more common and broader in use than "keenly")
|
enthusiastically (focuses more on visible excitement and positive energy than "keenly")
Antonyms
reluctantly (shows someone does something without wanting to, opposite of the eager feeling in "keenly")
|
indifferently (shows a lack of interest, the opposite of the strong interest in "keenly")
Collocations
listen keenly
|watch keenly
|follow keenly
|compete keenly
|participate keenly
Themes
emotions
|social
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The students listened keenly as the astronaut described life in space.
- Young entrepreneurs are keenly competing for funding in the startup contest.
- She followed the trial keenly, reading every update she could find.
- The children watched keenly while the magician prepared his final trick.
- He keenly supported the campaign from its very beginning.
Learner examples
- The class listened keenly to the teacher.
- The children watched keenly as the dog did tricks.
- Fans followed the game keenly online.
- She keenly supported her friend in the race.
- They competed keenly for the first prize.
adverb
C1
property
3
at a competitively low price
With a low and competitive price compared to other similar things.
Usage pattern:
keenly [participle] (priced/costed)
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the general "very" meaning and say *"keenly expensive." In business English, "keenly" almost always modifies words about price or cost in a positive way, as in "keenly priced" or "keenly priced at X."
Synonyms
competitively (common business term meaning prices are attractive compared to others; slightly more formal and technical than "keenly")
|
cheaply (more informal and can suggest low quality, while "keenly" suggests good value rather than just low cost)
Antonyms
expensively (means costing a lot; opposite of the idea of attractive or low prices in this sense)
|
overpriced (suggests the price is too high for the value, the opposite of the good-value idea in "keenly")
Collocations
keenly priced
|keenly priced products
|keenly priced hotel
|keenly priced at
Themes
business
|money
|commerce
|finance
Examples
- The hotel is keenly priced for visitors who want to stay near the city center.
- Supermarkets are offering keenly priced own-brand products to attract cost-conscious shoppers.
- Our services are keenly priced to give small businesses better value.
- The new phone is keenly priced at under three hundred dollars.
- These packages are keenly priced without cutting the level of service.
Learner examples
- The new laptops are keenly priced for students.
- This hotel is keenly priced for the summer season.
- Their online courses are keenly priced.
- The tour is keenly priced at a low rate.
- The phone is keenly priced but still has many features.
adverb
literary
C2
property
4
in a sharp, piercing way
In a sharp and strong way that feels like it is cutting, usually about wind or cold.
Usage pattern:
[something physical] acts/blows keenly
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use this sense in everyday speech where it sounds old-fashioned. In modern casual English, people usually say "very cold," "freezing," or "bitingly cold" instead of "blowing keenly" or "keenly cold."
Synonyms
sharply (broad adverb for sudden or strong physical effect; slightly less vivid than "keenly" in literary style)
|
bitingly (very similar in describing harsh cold or wind; slightly more common in modern literary usage than "keenly")
Antonyms
mildly (describes gentle or soft conditions, the opposite of the harsh quality implied by "keenly")
|
softly (suggests a gentle, pleasant sensation, contrasting with the cutting feeling of "keenly")
Collocations
wind blew keenly
|keenly cold
|air bit keenly
|keenly through his coat
Themes
nature
|weather
|physical_sensation
Examples
- The wind blew keenly across the open fields, stinging their faces.
- Despite his heavy coat, the cold still pressed keenly against his skin.
- The night air cut keenly through the broken window.
- A keenly cold breeze swept along the shoreline at dusk.
- The rain struck them keenly as they hurried home.
Learner examples
- The wind blew keenly on the hill.
- The cold hit them keenly when they left the car.
- The air felt keenly cold at night.
- Rain cut keenly into their faces.
- The winter wind moved keenly through the empty street.
Grammar
Dictionary form
keenly
IPA
GB/kˈinli/
US/kˈinli/
Syllables & stress
keenly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (keenly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: keenly
- Plural: keenlies
Word family
Forms
keenlies
noun
Core family
keen
adjective B1
keenness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unkeen
adjective
Expressions
keenly aware of
1/kˈinli əwˈɛɹ əv/
fixed phrase
very aware of something
To know or feel something very clearly and strongly.
Examples
- As a new manager, she is keenly aware of the pressure on her team.
- The government is keenly aware of the need for better healthcare funding.
keenly felt
1/kˈinli fˈɛlt/
fixed phrase
very strongly felt emotionally
Used to say that a feeling, usually a bad one like loss or regret, is felt very strongly.
Examples
- The closure of the factory was keenly felt in the small town.
- The impact of the policy change is keenly felt by low-income families.
keenly interested in
1/kˈinli ˈɪntɚˌɛstɪd ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
very interested in something
To be very, very interested in something.
Examples
- He is keenly interested in renewable energy technologies.
- Children are often keenly interested in stories about space.