Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having or showing keen interest or intense desire: Describes a strong feeling of wanting to do or have something, often with enthusiasm and impatience.
   • Impatiently expectant: Describes a state of excited anticipation.

2. Noun:

   • A high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow: A technical term for a large, turbulent wave formed by colliding tidal currents, especially in a narrow estuary. (Note: This noun form is archaic and highly specialized; the adjective form is overwhelmingly more common.)

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The students were eager to start the experiment.
  • She gave an eager nod when asked if she wanted to join the team.
  • He is eager for news about his application.
  • The company is eager to expand into new markets.

Advanced Usage

• "eager beaver" (idiom, noun): An extremely enthusiastic person who works very hard, sometimes excessively so.

  • She's a real eager beaver, always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

• "eagerly" (adverb): In a keenly expectant or interested manner.

  • The audience waited eagerly for the performance to begin.

Variants and Related Words

• Eagerness (noun): The quality of being eager; keen enthusiasm.

  • Her eagerness to help was appreciated by everyone.

• Overeager (adjective): Excessively eager, to the point of being rash or imprudent.

  • His overeager approach sometimes led to mistakes.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Keen, enthusiastic, avid, ardent, impatient, yearning.
• Noun (wave): Bore, tidal bore, eagre.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Apathetic, indifferent, reluctant, unenthusiastic.

Notes on Usage

• The primary and modern use of "eager" is as an adjective.
• The noun form referring to a tidal wave is considered archaic and is rarely used in everyday modern English. It is primarily found in historical or technical contexts related to hydrology or geography.
• "Eager" is typically followed by the preposition "to" (eager to learn) or "for" (eager for results).

Adjective

1. having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
   • eager to learn
   • eager to travel abroad
   • eager for success
   • eager helpers
   • an eager look

Noun

1. a high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)