avid
AV-id
/ˈævɪd/
Having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.
Implies consistent, dedicated pursuit of a personal interest or hobby.
The story behind the word. Avid traces back to the Latin adjective 'avidus', stemming from 'avere', meaning 'to desire keenly or crave'. In Classical Latin, it often carried shades of greed, but modern English transformed it into a praise-worthy term for enthusiastic devotion to hobbies.
Word relationships
- devoted: Devoted emphasizes loyalty and dedication, whereas avid emphasizes enthusiastic pursuit.
- keen: Keen refers to sharp interest; avid suggests an almost insatiable appetite for the activity.
- indifferent: Indifferent shows a complete lack of interest or affection.
- lukewarm: Lukewarm implies mild, unenthusiastic tolerance.
Commonly confused with
- arid: Arid means extremely dry or lifeless, whereas avid means eager and passionate.
Word family
- avidity (noun): Keen interest or enthusiasm; eagerness.
- avidly (adverb): With great enthusiasm or eagerness.
Collocations
- avid reader
- avid collector
- avid fan
- avid supporter
Idioms & expressions
- hungry for knowledge
Example sentences
- "As an avid reader, she consumed two novels every week without fail." Personal interest
- "He is an avid golfer who spends almost every weekend on the green." Sports and hobbies
Memory hook
A-VID: An AVID gamer watches every VIDEO available on their favorite game. Greedy for hobbies.
When not to use
Avoid when describing a single brief moment of excitement rather than an ongoing passion.
Fun facts
- The English word 'avarice' (extreme greed) comes from the very same Latin root 'avere'.
Related words
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