Curious

/ˈkjʊə.ɹi.əs/ · adjective

Meaning

Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying..

Definitions by Sense

1. Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying.
2. Caused by curiosity.
3. Leading one to ask questions about; somewhat odd, out of the ordinary, or unusual.
4. (LGBTQ) Clipping of bi-curious.
5. (in combination) Interested in entering a romantic or sexual relationship with a specified group.
6. (obsolete) Careful, fastidious, particular; (specifically) demanding a high standard of excellence, difficult to satisfy.
7. (obsolete) Carefully or artfully constructed; made with great elegance or skill.
8. (inorganic chemistry, rare) Containing or pertaining to trivalent curium.

Example Sentences

Young children are naturally curious about the world and everything in it.

I was ſo curious likewiſe as to goe to the place, where it is ſaid the great tower of Babel was built, being about halfe a days iourney diſtant; where I ſawe nothing but a high mountaine of earth in the midſt of a plaine where in digging you may finde certaine bricks, whereof it is ſaide the tower is built.

I shall quit your vessel on the ice raft which brought me thither and shall seek the most northern extremity of the globe; I shall collect my funeral pile, and consume to ashes this miserable frame, that its remains may afford no light to any curious and unhallowed wretch, who would create such another as I have been.

Jack Bradshaw, the leader of the Owl Patrol of the Redscar Scouts, strode to the dry stone wall bounding the cliff path, and drew from between the stones a ball of crumpled paper. He was curious as to why it had been placed there—where it could not have lodged accidentally—and he smoothed it out. He found it to be pencilled over with figures, like a scrap that had been used to reckon on.

George is a little monkey, / and all monkeys are curious. / But no monkey / is as curious as George. / That is why his name is / Curious George.

I know that not everyone feels like they are naturally curious—or bold enough to ask about someone's shoes. But here's the secret: that doesn't matter. You can use curiosity even if you don't think of yourself as instinctively curious.

But he to ſhifte their curious requeſt, / Gan cauſen, why ſhe could not come in place; [...].

Such is the uneven State of human Life: And it afforded me a great many curious Speculations afterwards, when I had a little recovered my first surprise.

Synonyms for curious

Antonyms for curious

Related Words

Word Forms

• more curious
• curiouser
• most curious
• curiousest

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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