curly

1 of 2

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

curliness

2 of 2

noun

curl·​i·​ness

ˈkər-lē-nəs

plural -es

: the quality or state of being curly

Synonyms of curly

Adjective

• curled
• wavy

Examples of curly in a Sentence

Adjective

She has curly hair and blue eyes.

The dog's tail is curly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Walker Scobell, who plays Percy Jackson, has gone from curly-haired scamp to a 17-year-old who draws fevered screams from his appreciative fans. — John Bleasdale, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026

What is a vintage curly bob haircut A vintage curly bob is a short cut built around rounded shaping, soft curls or waves and visible fullness, pulling from classic Hollywood rather than the clean geometry of a modern blunt bob. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026

Naturally curly hair can be reshaped with either, though hot rollers generally work best after the hair has been dried and smoothed if a more uniform curl pattern is desired. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026

Since the scalp’s natural oils have a harder time traveling down the strands to fortify them, curly and coily hair types are more fragile and prone to damage. — Eden Stuart, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing curly

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

Rhymes for curly

• burley
• burly
• girlie
• girly
• hurly
• pearly
• surly

Kids Definition

curly

adjective

ˈkər-lē 

curlier; curliest

: tending to curl

also : having curls

curly hair

curliness noun