Eager vs Enthusiastic

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

 EagerEnthusiastic
Meaningvery excited and wanting something a lotshowing a lot of excitement and interest
CEFR levelC1B2
Part of speechadjectiveadjective
Usage notesUse 'eager' when someone is enthusiastic about doing something. Avoid in overly formal situations; instead, use 'enthusiastic'.Use 'enthusiastic' to describe someone's strong positive feelings about something. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid it in overly serious discussions.

Frequently asked questions: Eager vs Enthusiastic

What's the difference between "Eager" and "Enthusiastic"?

"Eager" means: very excited and wanting something a lot "Enthusiastic" means: showing a lot of excitement and interest

When should I use "Eager" and "Enthusiastic"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Eager" and "Enthusiastic" the same CEFR level?

"Eager" is at C1, "Enthusiastic" is at B2 on the CEFR scale.

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