eager to marry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eager to marry" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong desire or enthusiasm for getting married. Example: "After years of dating, she finally felt ready and eager to marry her long-time partner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Case has been particularly eager to marry the culinary experience to technology.

The New Yorker

Far from segregating themselves into their own alien subculture, today's immigrant groups seem eager to marry into mainstream American society.

The New York Times

Myrtle is desperately eager to marry and to please; she is naïve, but she is not an airhead.

The New York Times

Her parents are eager to marry her off to another German suitor, but she's unwilling to entertain the option.

The Guardian - Film

Thomas is sweetly, shyly thrilled, eager to marry her, and so we gather in the cold church.

The New Yorker

Lavinia was so eager to marry the cute Yalie Joseph Lyman, coiling her long tresses around his neck, that she scared him away, to New Orleans.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Sometimes it's hard to fathom why our friends make the decisions they do but in this instance, you know that your friend is eager (or perhaps, overly-eager) to marry and mother so her motivation to nab a guy is high while her threshold for acceptable candidates may be low.

Huffington Post

Once upon a time women seemed more eager than men to marry.

The New York Times

Her older sister is married and expecting her first child and her best friend is eager to be married as well.

Huffington Post

Tim, who is eager to get married and get ahead, finds himself lumbered with Barry after he runs him over with his Porsche.

The New Yorker

Ms. Paley says she was not eager to be married and isn't sure she would like it with anyone except Mr. Kerrey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eager to marry" to convey a strong sense of anticipation and enthusiasm for marriage, especially when describing a character's desires or motivations in literature or storytelling.

Common error

While "eager to marry" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for synonyms like "desirous of marrying" or "keen to wed" for a more sophisticated tone, ensuring your language aligns with the context's formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eager to marry" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing a state of being or inclination. As Ludwig suggests, it indicates a strong desire or enthusiasm towards the act of getting married. The phrase typically modifies a noun or pronoun, expressing someone's readiness and anticipation for marriage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Books

9%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "eager to marry" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a strong desire or enthusiasm for marriage. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is widely used and understood. Predominantly found in news and media, books, and general contexts, it strikes a neutral tone suitable for diverse audiences. While highly versatile, remember to consider the formality of your writing when using this phrase, opting for more elevated synonyms in certain professional or academic settings. Overall, "eager to marry" effectively communicates a proactive and enthusiastic sentiment towards matrimony.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keen to wed

Changes "eager" to "keen" and "marry" to "wed", using synonyms to express the same sentiment.

desirous of marrying

Replaces "eager" with "desirous" and uses the gerund form of "marry", indicating a strong wish to get married.

longing to be married

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of wanting to marry, suggesting a deep yearning.

anxious to tie the knot

Uses the idiomatic expression "tie the knot" to replace "marry", adding a touch of informality.

ready to get hitched

Employs the informal term "hitched" for "married", indicating a casual eagerness for marriage.

yearning for matrimony

Replaces "eager to marry" with a more formal and poetic expression, emphasizing the desire for marriage.

looking forward to marriage

Focuses on anticipation of marriage rather than immediate eagerness.

enthusiastic about getting married

Substitutes "eager" with "enthusiastic" and rephrases "marry" as "getting married", conveying excitement about the prospect of marriage.

set on marrying

Indicates a determined intention to marry, rather than just a desire.

intent on wedding

Uses a more formal tone by replacing "eager" with "intent" and "marry" with "wedding", suggesting a firm decision to get married.

FAQs

How can I use "eager to marry" in a sentence?

You can use "eager to marry" to describe someone who is very enthusiastic about getting married. For example, "She was "eager to marry" her childhood sweetheart."

What are some alternatives to saying "eager to marry"?

Alternatives include "keen to wed", "desirous of marrying", or "longing to be married", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "eager for marriage" instead of "eager to marry"?

Yes, "eager for marriage" is grammatically correct, but it emphasizes the state of being married rather than the act of getting married, while "eager to marry" focuses on the action of the wedding itself.

What's the difference between "eager to marry" and "willing to marry"?

"Eager to marry" suggests a strong desire and enthusiasm for marriage, while "willing to marry" implies a readiness or agreement to marry, without necessarily indicating strong enthusiasm.