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curious

adjective
cu·​ri·​ous | \ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce curious (audio) , ˈkyər-\

Definition of curious

1a : 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.
3a archaic : made carefully
b archaic : precisely accurate
c obsolete : abstruse
Other Words from curious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about curious

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Other Words from curious

curiousness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for curious

Synonyms

inquisitive, nosy (or nosey), prying, snoopy

Antonyms

incurious, uncurious

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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

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."

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Instead of talking so much, try being more curious about the lives of others. — Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, "How to be a better listener by not talking so much," 9 Sep. 2019 That’s the best way to create change — to become curious about the books [shown onstage], to be looking things up, to be fact-checking me. — Ellen Olivier, Los Angeles Times, "Laurence Fishburne, Cedric the Entertainer, Gina Torres attend opening night of ‘Latin History for Morons’," 9 Sep. 2019 Voters should be curious about what comes out on the other side. — J.e.f. | Washington, The Economist, "The Democratic candidates spell out their policies on climate change," 5 Sep. 2019 But the automaker’s fiercest fans are probably less concerned with what makes the Taycan’s power, and more curious about what makes it a legit Porsche. — Wired, "With the Taycan, Porsche Launches into the Electric Future," 4 Sep. 2019 The game’s push-back only made people all the more curious about its content. — Tom Hoffarth, latimes.com, "‘Ball Four’ author Jim Bouton smoked baseball inside until the very end," 14 July 2019 But now, as an adult, Jason was more curious than ever. — CBS News, "Podcast spotlights Mississippi double murder – can new DNA technology solve the cold case?," 29 June 2019 In 2015, the daughter of a patient who had used donor sperm became curious about her genealogy and began research that led her to discover that a second cousin of hers was a relative of Barwin's. — NBC News, "Fertility doctor accused of impregnating at least 11 women with his own sperm," 27 June 2019 In 2011, Allen became curious about how many squirrels were chattering in the trees around him, but could find no good answer to his question. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Volunteers Counted All the Squirrels in Central Park," 24 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of curious

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

History and Etymology for curious

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

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More Definitions for curious

curious

adjective
How to pronounce curious (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of curious

: having a desire to learn or know more about something or someone
: strange, unusual, or unexpected

See the full definition for curious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

curious

adjective
cu·​ri·​ous | \ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce curious (audio) \

Kids Definition of curious

1 : eager to learn : inquisitive Curious onlookers gathered at the scene.
2 : showing an eagerness to learn a curious expression
3 : attracting attention by being strange or unusual : odd “… I'm a … collector … and I like to look at curious specimens.”— Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg

Other Words from curious

curiously adverb

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