keenness

/ˈkiːnnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkiːnnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkēnnə̇s/ (ame, mw)

keenness — noun

1. the quality of caring strongly about an activity and showing visible interest in

1.名詞B2
釋義

the quality of caring strongly about an activity and showing visible interest in doing it

例句

Amihan's keenness to learn Spanish surprised her tutor on the very first day.

keenness to + infinitive

The new manager noticed Brian's keenness for taking on extra projects after hours.

keenness for + noun

同義詞
  • enthusiasm

    more common in everyday speech and writing

  • eagerness

    stresses the urgency of wanting to start

  • zeal

    stronger, sometimes religious or political

  • avidity

    formal and uncommon; suggests almost greedy interest

反義詞
  • reluctance

    unwillingness to do something

  • apathy

    complete lack of interest or feeling

文法句型

keenness for + noun

keenness to + infinitive

用法筆記

Often followed by 'for + noun' or 'to + infinitive'. Subject is usually a person or group whose interest is visible in their actions.

常見錯誤

❌She has a keenness about music.
✅She has a keenness for music.
💡use 'for' before the noun, not 'about'.
❌His keenness of helping was obvious.
✅His keenness to help was obvious.
💡use a to-infinitive after 'keenness', not 'of + -ing'.

2. the ability to think and understand new things very quickly

2.名詞C1
釋義

the ability to think and understand new things very quickly

例句

The judges praised the young chess player for the keenness of her thinking under pressure.

keenness of [thinking/mind]

Sivan's keenness of mind was clear from the way she solved each puzzle in seconds.

同義詞
  • sharpness

    more common, used for both mind and senses

  • acuity

    formal; often used in medical or academic contexts

  • perspicacity

    very formal; suggests deep insight

反義詞

文法句型

keenness of mind / intellect

用法筆記

Often appears in the phrase 'keenness of mind' or 'keenness of intellect'. Distinguish from sense 1 (enthusiasm): this sense is about thinking ability, not about wanting.

常見錯誤

❌He learned the rules with great keenness.' (when meaning quickly)
✅He learned the rules with great keenness of mind.
💡without 'of mind', readers will read sense 1 (enthusiasm) instead.

3. the ability to see, hear, or notice things much better than most people or anima

3.名詞C1
釋義

the ability to see, hear, or notice things much better than most people or animals do

例句

Mongolian hunters rely on the keenness of an eagle's eyesight to spot prey below.

keenness of [animal]'s [sense]

Jabari was famous in the village for the keenness of his hearing during night patrols.

keenness of [person]'s [sense]

同義詞
  • acuity

    the standard medical word for sharp senses (visual acuity)

  • sharpness

    everyday alternative; less precise

反義詞

文法句型

keenness of [sense organ]

用法筆記

Almost always appears as 'keenness of + [sight / hearing / smell / vision]'. Subject is typically a person or animal whose sense is unusually sharp.

常見錯誤

❌The keenness of his ears was famous.
✅The keenness of his hearing was famous.
💡use the sense noun (hearing), not the body part (ears).

4. the strong or extreme degree to which a feeling or emotion is experienced

4.名詞C1
釋義

the strong or extreme degree to which a feeling or emotion is experienced

例句

Sumin remembered the keenness of her disappointment when her best friend moved abroad.

keenness of [emotion]

Even years later, the keenness of his grief had not faded after his sister's death.

同義詞
  • intensity

    the most common word for strong feelings

  • depth

    stresses how far the feeling reaches

  • sharpness

    suggests a sudden, painful quality

反義詞
  • mildness

    weak or gentle quality of a feeling

文法句型

keenness of [emotion / feeling]

用法筆記

Most often appears as 'keenness of + [grief / regret / disappointment / longing]'. Used in writing more than in speech, especially about painful feelings.

常見錯誤

❌The keenness of the soup made me cry.' (meaning strong taste)
✅The strength of the soup made me cry.
💡this sense applies to emotions, not physical sensations.

5. the painfully cold and biting quality of wind or air

5.名詞C2
釋義

the painfully cold and biting quality of wind or air

例句

Hamza pulled his scarf tighter against the keenness of the December wind on the open hillside.

keenness of the wind

The keenness of the early-morning air made the runners' eyes water before they had warmed up.

keenness of [the air]

同義詞
  • bite

    more common in spoken weather descriptions (a bite in the air)

  • sharpness

    everyday alternative for cold air

反義詞

文法句型

keenness of [the wind / the air]

用法筆記

Literary and somewhat old-fashioned. You will mostly meet this sense in novels, travel writing, or poetry — not in daily conversation about the weather.

常見錯誤

❌The keenness of the soup warmed me up.
✅The keenness of the wind made me shiver.
💡this sense only describes cold wind or air, never food or drink.

6. the very sharp quality of the edge or point of a tool or weapon

6.名詞C2
釋義

the very sharp quality of the edge or point of a tool or weapon

例句

Élise tested the keenness of the kitchen knife by slicing through a ripe tomato.

keenness of [the knife]

Hui checked the keenness of each axe blade before sending the order to the market.

keenness of [the blade]

同義詞
  • sharpness

    the everyday word; preferred outside literary contexts

反義詞

文法句型

keenness of [the blade / edge]

用法筆記

Technical / literary. Distinguish from sense 2 (mental sharpness): this sense is about a physical edge, not a person's thinking.

常見錯誤

❌Her keenness cut through the argument.' (meaning sharp blade)
✅The keenness of her knife cut through the rope.
💡this sense needs an actual blade or edge as the head noun.