What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
acute
Example
The patient complained of an acute pain in his chest. [acute: adjective]
Example
The company is facing an acute financial crisis. [acute: adjective]
Example
She has an acute sense of hearing and can detect even the slightest sounds. [acute: adjective]
keen
Example
He has a keen interest in music and plays several instruments. [keen: adjective]
Example
She has a keen eye for detail and can spot errors easily. [keen: adjective]
Example
Be careful with that knife, it has a very keen edge. [keen: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Keen is more commonly used than acute in everyday language. Keen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while acute is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between acute and keen?
Both acute and keen can be used in formal and informal contexts, but acute may be more commonly used in medical or technical writing, while keen is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
