curiosity

noun

cu·ri·os·i·ty | \ ˌkyu̇r-ē-ˈä-s(ə-)tē

, ˌkyər-\

plural curiosities

Definition of curiosity

1 : desire to know:

a : inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosiness The construction inside their house aroused the curiosity of their neighbors.

b : interest leading to inquiry intellectual curiosity Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions.

2 archaic : undue nicety or fastidiousness

3a : one that arouses interest especially for uncommon or exotic characteristics Tobacco was once regarded as a curiosity in Europe.

b : an unusual knickknack : curio The antique shop was full of curiosities.

c : a curious trait or aspect

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about curiosity

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Examples of curiosity in a Sentence

Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions. The arrival of a construction crew at their house attracted the curiosity of their neighbors. The movie failed to satisfy her curiosity about the assassination. Tobacco was once a curiosity in Europe. The antique shop was full of curiosities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Molly of Denali This new animated kids show features a Native American character (voice of Sovereign Bill), a 10-year-old Alaska resident whose natural curiosity leads her and her friends to explore the wonders of her state. — Ed Stockly, latimes.com, "What’s on TV Monday: ‘Molly of Denali’ on PBS," 14 July 2019 Chanel’s curiosity for other cultures can be traced to the Maison’s designs today. — Jasmine Contomichalos, Vogue, "Inside The Vogue100's Whirlwind Couture Week Tour," 9 July 2019 Their neighbors on the other hand did give rise to concern or at least to greater curiosity. — John O'sullivan, National Review, "Can Anyone Beat Boris?," 9 July 2019 Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, has drawn scientific curiosity for decades. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Enceladus's Ocean Could Be Just the Right Age For Harboring Life," 3 July 2019 Magizoologists are strong against beasts and weak against curiosities. — Matthew Gault, Time, "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," 2 July 2019 Neither of this week’s debates approached the audience for the first 2016 GOP primary debate, with newcomer Donald Trump driving curiosity. — Jaclyn Gallucci, Fortune, "Round 2 of Democratic Debate Is Party's Most-Watched Ever," 29 June 2019 If curiosity killed the cat, the puzzle-solving exploration is going to eviscerate lead characters Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. — Nick Romano, EW.com, "10 best videogames of 2019 (so far)," 27 June 2019 YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and people's curiosity extends beyond what's contemporary. — Emma Grey Ellis, WIRED, "Spiff Up Your Real-World Skills With Old Timey YouTube," 25 June 2019

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

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curiouser and curiouser

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Last Updated

19 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for curiosity

The first known use of curiosity was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for curiosity

curiosity

noun

English Language Learners Definition of curiosity

: the desire to learn or know more about something or someone

: something that is interesting because it is unusual

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

curiosity

noun

cu·ri·os·i·ty | \ ˌkyu̇r-ē-ˈä-sə-tē

plural curiosities

Kids Definition of curiosity

1 : an eager desire to learn and often to learn things that are another's concern “What's happening?” he asked with curiosity.

2 : something strange or unusual They both sat looking at Harriet as though she were a curiosity put on television to entertain them.— Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy

3 : an object or article valued because it is strange or rare