curious

adjective

cu·​ri·​ous ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs 

ˈkyər-

1

a

: marked by desire to investigate and learn

They were curious as to who won the game.

The cat was curious about its new environment.

b

: marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy

curious about the neighbors' doings

2

: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd

a curious coincidence

We were concerned about his curious behavior.

3

a

archaic : made carefully

b

archaic : precisely accurate

c

obsolete : abstruse

curiousness noun

Did you know?

Since the 1300s, "curious" has been variously used to describe things that in some way require, invite, or are characterized by carefulness or inquisitiveness. In so doing, it carries on the legacy of its Latin source, the adjective curiosus, meaning "careful" or "inquisitive." The comparative of "curious" is "more curious," though it is not unusual to encounter the phrase "curiouser and curiouser," made popular by the title character of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland who, Lewis Carroll tells us, "was so much surprised that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English."

Synonyms

• inquisitive
• nosy
• nosey
• prying
• snoopy

Choose the Right Synonym for curious

curious, inquisitive, prying mean interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern.

curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Examples of curious in a Sentence

The cat was naturally curious about its new surroundings.

They were curious to find out who won the game.

We're curious about why you never called us.

I'm curious to know more about her.

She found a curious old clock in the attic.

The birds were engaged in some curious behavior.

Their music is a curious blend of disco and rock.

By a curious coincidence, they bought a house the same day their old one burned down.

Recent Examples on the Web

For all of Elon Musk’s ventures—the cars, the rockets, the tunnels, the brain-machine interfaces, the satellite Internet services, the federal government departments with funny names—a private preschool might be the most curious. —Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

Dive Into Local Experiences With Curiosity Keep a curious mind—approach each culture as a new story to uncover. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

For those curious about where lead service lines are located, the city offers an online map. —Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024

Very curious to know, what is your Thanksgiving SOS? —Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing curious

• bi-curious

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

curious

adjective

cu·​ri·​ous ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs 

1

: eager to learn

a cat curious about its new surroundings

2

: inquisitive sense 2

3

: attracting attention by being strange or unusual : odd

a curious old coin

that's curious—they were here yesterday

curiously adverb

curiousness noun

Etymology

Middle English curious "made carefully, skillful, eager to learn," from early French curios (same meaning), from Latin curiosus "careful, inquisitive," from cura "care, healing" — related to accurate, cure