What does avidly mean?
Avidly is an adverb meaning with great eagerness or intense enthusiasm. When someone does something avidly — reads a book avidly, follows a sports team avidly, or watches developments avidly — they do so with keen, wholehearted interest and appetite for more. The word derives from the adjective "avid," which traces back to the Latin avēre, "to crave or desire eagerly," a root it shares with "avidity" and, more distantly, "avarice." In modern usage, avidly carries a positive connotation: it suggests genuine passion and sustained attention rather than mere politeness or obligation. It appears frequently in descriptions of readers, fans, collectors, and followers of news or events. Because it emphasizes intensity of desire as well as interest, avidly is a useful word for conveying that someone's engagement is deep and voluntary — the kind of enthusiasm people bring to what they love, not what they merely tolerate.
adverbIn an avid manner; with eager enthusiasm or intense interest.
- With great eagerness or enthusiasm; keenly and intensely interested.
"She read every new novel in the series avidly, finishing each within a day of its release."
"Fans around the world avidly followed every update about the mission."
"As a boy, he avidly collected stamps, spending his pocket money at every shop that sold them."
Despite describing pure enthusiasm, "avidly" descends from the Latin avēre, "to crave" — the same root that gave us "avarice," making it a cousin of greed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of avidly
Avidly is formed from the English adjective "avid" plus the adverbial suffix -ly. "Avid" entered English in the mid-18th century from Latin avidus, meaning "eager, greedy, or desirous," itself derived from the verb avēre, "to crave." This makes avidly an etymological cousin of words like avidity and avarice, which come from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How avidly is actually used
Neutral-to-positive register; suitable for both formal writing and everyday speech. It typically modifies verbs of consumption, attention, or pursuit — reading, watching, listening, collecting, following. It conveys strong personal engagement without implying anything excessive or disapproving.
Easily confused with avidly
"Aridly" means in a dry or barren manner (from "arid"), while "avidly" means with eager enthusiasm — they differ by a single letter but are nearly opposite in feel.