curly

adjective

ˈkər-lē 

curlier; curliest

1

: tending to curl

also : having curls

curly hair

2

: having the grain composed of fibers that undulate without crossing and that often form alternating light and dark lines

curly maple

curliness noun

Synonyms

• curled

Examples of curly in a Sentence

She has curly hair and blue eyes.

The dog's tail is curly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though her role is brief here, Margaret Qualley, with a curly short hairstyle that is the spitting image of her mother circa 1998, is a standout. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 May 2024

The first slide in the series was a selfie of a camo shirt-wearing Jonas staring into a mirror with his curly hair piled on top of his head, followed by a second one in which someone is running a clipper through his hair. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing curly

• curly brace
• curly bracket
• curly-coated retriever
• curly endive
• curly top

Kids Definition

curly

adjective

ˈkər-lē 

curlier; curliest

: tending to curl

also : having curls

curly hair

curliness noun