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The Finer Points of Avid
The original and now relatively unfamiliar sense of avid, “desirous to the point of greed,” developed logically from its root in Latin, avēre (meaning “to long for”). It appears in such phrases as “avid of fame” and “avid for details,” expressions we are more likely to encounter in formal writing than in speech. More common today is the word’s somewhat weakened and ameliorated (that is, “made better,” or given a more positive connotation) meaning “extremely enthusiastic.” This is the sense regularly used of people who have embraced some hobby or pursuit (such as avid readers, gardeners, or knitters).
Examples of avid in a Sentence
The Athletic Collectibles Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
The Ray Foundation was established in 1963 by James C. Ray and his wife, Joan, both avid aviators.
—Cyril A. Reinicke, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Her character is an avid surfer, which meant filming several scenes far from shore.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
My 13-year-old and resident tech wiz is an avid coder and uses AI to troubleshoot his code.
—Suzi Morales, Parents, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for avid
Cite this Entry
“Avid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avid. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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avid
adjective
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