keen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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It is understood manager Roberto de Zerbi was keen to sign Palhinha because of his role in helping Spurs avoid relegation, but the club were unable to reach an agreement with Bayern.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
But many were far less keen to discuss how much of those funds they’d clawed back, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Modi, a keen user of X, has turned to Instagram -- issuing his first vertical videos to tap into the youth medium of choice.
From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026
Berceren is keen to emphasize that this isn’t simply an American phenomenon.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
George Orwell—a keen observer of what lay behind the glitter of constructed facades, social and otherwise—had met Julian on several occasions, and had not liked him.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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Dr Caulfield said she was "delighted” to see Róis “proudly performing her keens to full houses, with no shame or stigmatisation involved, just audiences loving her bravery and skill".
From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2025
Benjamin Wallfisch’s score keens and groans ominously, sometimes dipping into synthy electronic moments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2024
Behind the action a stringed instrument keens in a low register and a piano riff trembles in a gentle minor key.
From Salon ● Jan. 3, 2021
She’s got a beaten-up suitcase at her feet and keens softly into her lap.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 14, 2019
The priests walk slowly around the pyre, saying antique prayers, and the crowd, all in black, ignoring the black priests, keens.
From "Grendel" by John Gardner
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Dior designer Jonathan Anderson appeared keener than most to take some risks.
From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026
The magic is unique and often biological—many characters have mental or physical enhancements that give them perfect memory or keener senses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
What they were keener to talk about was life in Henderson, a city they’d lived in and loved for a long time now—including for the MMA connection.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2024
Maybe he now possesses a keener understanding of Martha.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2024
Working in a kitchen every day made you appreciate a keen edge, and this edge was keener than most.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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But niche pleasures, for those who partake in them, are often the keenest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
Not surprisingly, those countries keenest to see it deployed quickly - including Poland and Finland- are those geographically closest to Russia.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2025
For our money, Jim is both the funniest and keenest politics writer in the United States—which is to say, readers, your long national nightmare is over!
From Slate ● Aug. 30, 2025
Among the keenest observers of the test flights in Texas is Nasa.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2024
“In a siege,” said Dr. Trefusis, “time’s passage is itself an event, and one of the keenest weapons of assault. You appear discountenanced.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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“My boy, my little boy, come home to us, my little boy,” she keened over the body.
From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2022
But whether the wind produced a lion’s roar, or merely keened or whistled or hummed, at its peak it was clocked by the National Weather Service at Reagan National Airport at 29 mph.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 29, 2020
While the violin lines of “Where Are U Now” keened behind him, his face was slick with sweat.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2015
As the truck made its way across the square, women and children spilled out of their houses, sat down in the dirt, and keened.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 12, 2015
She nursed the baby as she keened and every so often held her up so that Zizmo and God could see what they had done.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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Shift to Sport mode and the engine will hold at a high, keening rpm, trying to charge the battery faster than the driver can drain it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2025
When I set out to write this, I admit, I meant it to be as rueful as Earl’s keening deathbed monologue about “the goddamn regret.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2024
The tone of his voice is high, a keening sound.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2024
She seemed equally startling, at first, for her keening voice and her shaven head.
From New York Times ● Jul. 26, 2023
In the distance, the sound of keening began.
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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