are eager to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are eager to" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone's strong desire or willingness to do something. For example: - The students are eager to learn new material. - We are eager to hear your thoughts on the project. - The team is eager to win the championship. - She is eager to try the new restaurant in town. In all of these sentences, "are eager to" is used to express the enthusiasm or readiness of the subject. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing feelings, actions, or attitudes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are eager to cross-examine witnesses.

The New Yorker

Drug companies are eager to start production.

The New York Times - Science

Its talented exiles are eager to return.

The Economist

THE PEOPLEHaitians are eager to help themselves.

The New York Times

They are eager to follow recipes, too.

The New Yorker

Conservatives are eager to support it.

The Economist

People are eager to help.

Harvard University

Pies are eager to please.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They are eager to return.

The New York Times

They are eager to pray.

The Guardian

We are eager to address these issues.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are eager to" to clearly convey enthusiasm and willingness, especially when emphasizing a proactive stance or positive anticipation of an event or task.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious" in place of "eager" unless you intend to convey a sense of worry or nervousness in addition to enthusiasm. While sometimes interchangeable, "anxious" often carries a connotation of unease that "eager" lacks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are eager to" functions as a predicate adjective followed by an infinitive. This construction describes a subject's state of being in terms of their enthusiasm and willingness to perform an action, as validated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Academia

10%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are eager to" is a versatile and commonly used expression to convey enthusiasm, readiness, or a strong willingness to perform an action. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the subject's positive anticipation. Remember to distinguish it from "are anxious to", which carries a connotation of unease, potentially altering the intended meaning. For alternatives, you may use "are keen to" or "are excited to". In conclusion, "are eager to" is a valuable tool for expressing positive intention, backed by multiple examples across authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are keen to

Replaces "eager" with "keen", suggesting a slightly less intense but still enthusiastic interest.

are enthusiastic to

Uses the explicit adjective "enthusiastic" to describe their sentiment, emphasizing positive excitement.

are looking forward to

Expresses anticipation and pleasure about a future event or action.

are anxious to

Substitutes "eager" with "anxious", implying a sense of anticipation or slight nervousness alongside enthusiasm.

are excited to

Directly states that they are feeling excitement, similar to "are enthusiastic to".

are impatient to

Suggests a desire to do something quickly, perhaps lacking patience.

can't wait to

An informal expression denoting excitement and anticipation.

are willing to

Replaces "eager" with "willing", indicating a readiness to do something, though potentially without the strong enthusiasm.

are ready to

Similar to "are willing to", but emphasizes preparedness and availability.

are longing to

Implies a deep yearning or desire.

FAQs

How to use "are eager to" in a sentence?

Use "are eager to" to describe someone's strong desire or willingness to do something. For example, "The students "are eager to learn" new material."

What can I say instead of "are eager to"?

You can use alternatives like "are keen to", "are anxious to", or "are excited to" depending on the context.

Is "eager to" formal or informal?

"Eager to" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its suitability often depends on the overall tone and vocabulary of the writing.

What's the difference between "are eager to" and "are anxious to"?

While both express a strong desire, "are eager to" typically implies enthusiasm and positive anticipation, whereas "are anxious to" can suggest a mix of desire and worry or nervousness. Choose based on the intended emotional nuance.