avid

[av-id]

adjective

1. showing great enthusiasm for or interest in.

   an avid moviegoer.

   Synonyms: fanatic, zealous, dedicated, devoted, keen, ardent, enthusiastic
   Antonyms: reluctant, apathetic, indifferent

2. extremely desirous; eager; greedy (often followed by for or sometimesof ).

   avid for pleasure; avid of power.

   Synonyms: rapacious, rapacious, covetous, insatiable, hungry
   Antonyms: loath, disdainful

avid

/ ˈævɪd /

adjective

1. very keen; enthusiastic

   an avid reader

2. (postpositive; often foll by for or of) eager (for); desirous (of); greedy (for)

   avid for revenge

Other Word Forms

• avidly adverb
• avidness noun
• unavid adjective
• unavidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of avid¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from French avide, from Latin avidus, equivalent to av(ēre) “to crave” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of avid¹

C18: from Latin avidus, from avēre to long for

Synonym Study

Avid, eager, keen all share the sense of strongly desirous. Avid suggests a desire akin to greed, so strong as to be insatiable: driven by an avid need for fame and recognition. Eager implies a desire that is strong and impatient but less than overpowering: eager to try his hand at new tasks. Keen carries a sense of zest and active, alert desire: an amateur painter, ever keen to try new techniques.

Example Sentences

Keane was an avid fan of Lost in Space growing up in the 1960s, and when he told John how much he loved the music, John was completely embarrassed.

From Los Angeles Times

He is an avid vinyl record collector who recently became aware of the de minimis exemption suspension when he tried to - unsuccessfully - buy a $5 rare record from a seller in the UK.

From BBC

The 76-year-old retired state employee, former gun store owner and avid elk hunter from La Grande, Oregon, is on a mission to keep turbines and transmission towers from blighting the rural landscape.

From Salon

The audience is older — they are avid readers who are likely to subscribe to newspapers, watch cable news and PBS, and enjoy solving puzzles.

From Los Angeles Times

Music is not Tems' only passion - she is an avid football fan and recently became part-owner of US football club San Diego FC.

From BBC

Related Words

• ardent 
• devoted 
• eager 
• fanatical 
• fervent 
• hungry 
• impatient 
• insatiable 
• keen 
• passionate 
• ravenous 
• thirsty 
• voracious 
• zealous