Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Antonyms for eager


Grammar : Adj
Spell : ee-ger
Phonetic Transcription : ˈi gər



Definition of eager

Origin :
  • late 13c., "strenuous, ardent, fierce, angry," from Old French aigre "sour, acid; harsh, bitter, rough; eager greedy; lively, active, forceful," from Latin acrem (nominative acer) "keen, sharp, pointed, piercing; acute, ardent, zealous" (see acrid).
  • Meaning "full of keen desire" (early 14c.) seems to be peculiar to English. The English word kept an alternative meaning of "pungent, sharp-edged" till 19c. (e.g. Shakespeare's "The bitter clamour of two eager tongues," in "Richard II"). Related: Eagerly; eagerness.
  • adj anxious, enthusiastic
Example sentences :
  • He was eager now to be off, and the time would hang heavily.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • The unfermented wine of another spring day came to his eager nostrils.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • There are twenty men who will be eager to comply with the wishes of their minister.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • How pale and eager their faces looked as they bent above him!
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • Miss Wilder listened attentively to Grace's eager outpouring.
  • Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower
  • Not being a knowledge of the whole truth it should be humble, tolerant, and eager to expand.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • It is as eager on behalf of the man behind a counter as on that of him who is governing a country.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • In such directions, Aggie was the leader, an eager, joyous one always.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • You don't give me time, and you are so eager that it is difficult to be beforehand with you on the subject.
  • Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
  • Its attributes of youth are the activity and eager life with which it is redundant.
  • Extract from : « Sketches from Memory » by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Synonyms for eager

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019