eager

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'eager' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean enthusiastic or excited about something. An example sentence would be: She was eager to try the new restaurant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McDermott says his squad is too limited and needs January reinforcements – most fans agree, but many of them also detect unexpected limitations in McDermott's approach and are eager to see some new ideas as well as new faces.

The Guardian - Sport

I was eager to get going and Bobo had only one instruction: "Follow the camel".

The Guardian - Travel

There he once returned to the dressing room after training to find armed men eager to berate the team for their failings.

The Guardian - Sport

The Labour deputy leader, Harriet Harman, called for an apology, and a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats – increasingly eager to show they are locked in a loveless marriage with Cameron – said: "We would not have used that language".

The Guardian

With Beijing hoping to further cement its foothold in a country viewed as offering the easiest entrance to Europe commercially, Chinese officials are eager to replicate Cosco's business model elsewhere.

The Guardian

The more likely it seems that they won't get a second term, the more eager they are to press on with their project to outsource, shrink and commercialise as much of the state as they can.

The Guardian - Opinion

YouGov finds Britain becoming more sympathetic to the weak than France or Germany, growing more concerned about social housing, more eager for government intervention on jobs.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is the same person she was in 2008 (though seemingly even more desperate and eager to pander) and she is still actively trying to make the world worse.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Lib Dems, eager to restore credibility on the issue in the wake of their broken 2010 election pledge to abolish tuition fees, claim that the Labour plan will help richer graduates.

The Guardian

Then there was also bits that made me eager to find out more such as where it says, "watch the triangles in his eyes fade to nothing as I taste him and swallow his heart".

The Guardian

The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, normally eager to be in the news cycle, was completely silent.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eager" to convey a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation. It's appropriate in many contexts, but consider synonyms like "keen" or "enthusiastic" for slight variations in tone.

Common error

While both "eagerness" and anxiety can involve anticipation, ensure your word choice reflects the intended emotion. "Eager" suggests positive anticipation, whereas anxiety implies worry or fear.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "eager" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns or pronouns to describe a state of enthusiastic anticipation or willingness. Ludwig AI confirms its typical usage as an adjective describing someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "eager" is a versatile term used to express enthusiasm and anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammatical rules and is widely accepted in written English. With a "Very common" frequency, it appears often in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts. When writing, remember that "eager" implies positive anticipation, differentiating it from words like "anxious", which suggest worry. For nuanced expression, consider synonyms such as "keen", "enthusiastic", or "excited". In essence, "eager" is a reliable choice for conveying enthusiasm across various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keen

Single word, generally interchangeable, carries a slightly more sophisticated tone.

enthusiastic

Longer, emphasizes excitement and positive feeling.

excited

Similar emotional tone but can be more general in application.

raring to go

Idiomatic, suggests readiness and energy.

anxious

Implies a degree of worry or nervousness alongside anticipation.

can't wait

Informal, expresses strong anticipation.

impatient

Highlights the difficulty of waiting or delaying.

motivated

Suggests a driving force or purpose behind the enthusiasm.

willing

Focuses on readiness and agreement to do something.

longing

Emphasizes a strong desire or yearning.

FAQs

How to use "eager" in a sentence?

You can use "eager" to describe someone's enthusiastic anticipation of something. For example, "She was "eager to" start her new job".

What can I say instead of "eager"?

You can use alternatives like "keen", "enthusiastic", or "excited" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "eager to" or "eager for"?

"Eager to" is generally used before a verb, while "eager for" is used before a noun. For example, "eager to learn" vs. "eager for knowledge".

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

"Eager" implies a positive anticipation and excitement, while "anxious" suggests worry and nervousness about something that might happen.