curious

1 of 2

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

curiousness

2 of 2

noun

cu·​ri·​ous·​ness

ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs-nəs, 

ˈkyər-

plural -es

: the quality of being curious: such as

a

obsolete : carefulness, painstaking

b

: curious workmanship : ingenuity of contrivance

c

: inquisitiveness, curiosity

d

: novelty, oddity

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 of curious

Adjective

• inquisitive
• interested
• prying
• nosy

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

Adjective

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

Adjective

The expectations for the USA are not huge for this tournament – just ask Gary Lineker – but a scintillating performance such as what took place on SoFi Stadium’s turf on Friday night is something that will exhilarate soccer fans and the soccer-curious around the country. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2026

The researchers were curious whether the photon might be able to destroy the past version of itself—akin to a person traveling back in time to kill their grandfather, thus preventing themselves from ever being born. —Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026

But the rest of the predictions told a more curious story. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026

Miles hopes to incorporate more education on future tours and is interested in partnering with real estate agents who can arrange stops at open houses and offer resources for curious first-time home buyers. —Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English, from curious + -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing curious

• bi-curious

Rhymes for curious

• furious
• spurious
• injurious

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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

Adjective

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