curious

adjective cu·ri·ous \ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs , ˈkyər- \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: curious in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of curious

1 a archaic : made carefully

b obsolete : abstruse

c archaic : precisely accurate

2 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

3 : exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd

a curious coincidence

We were concerned about his curious behavior.

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curiousness

noun

See curious defined for English-language learners

See curious defined for kids

curious was our Word of the Day on 05/07/2011. Hear the podcast!

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.

Recent Examples of curious from the Web

Know of a new business coming to your town or curious about some activity at an empty storefront?

— rene wisely, Detroit Free Press, "New shops, breweries coming to Oakland County downtowns," 4 June 2018
Co-owner, beverage director and general manager Benjamin Krick and his team often find themselves in teacher mode, explaining what the ingredients are on their ambitious menu to the curious.

— emily spicer, San Antonio Express-News, "The 10 best bars in San Antonio," 4 June 2018
Needless to say, last Friday night's reception attracted a colorful and curious crowd.

— amber elliott, Houston Chronicle, "Tony Buzbee shows off collection of Warhol, Monet and Picasso, helps art initiative raise $30,000," 4 June 2018
Unfortunately, this bird also has a nasty habit of pecking at the device and its wire, so operators often have to give the camera a jiggle to get the curious, possibly fame-hungry, flyer to move on.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "WATCH: Australia Traffic Camera Becomes One-Bird Show for Curious Cockatoo," 4 June 2018
These viewpoints make the alt right’s embrace of Depeche Mode — Richard Spencer refers to himself as a lifelong fan — all the more curious.

— a.d. amorosi, Philly.com, "Depeche Mode don't think their music can change the world. That won't stop them from trying," 29 May 2018
As photo-friendly beverages such as frozé and Starbucks’s Pink Drink were able to amass loyal (or at least curious) followings via social media, White Port & Tonic could already be on its way via Instagram.

— rachel king, Fortune, "Meet the Next Wine-Based Cocktail Trend Expected to Sweep the Summer," 25 May 2018
Yes, his worldview — a fascinating hybrid of the curious, cranky and kooky — does indeed hold a mirror up to nature and show us as others see us.

— alan cumming, New York Times, "David Sedaris Has a New Essay Collection. It Changed Alan Cumming’s Whole Worldview.," 25 May 2018
Taking into account how Will & Grace and especially Roseanne had reversed the fortunes of their networks on flagging nights, CBS’s decision seemed all the more curious.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "The hottest new shows of fall 2018 will be old ones — again," 24 May 2018

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.

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."

Origin and Etymology of curious

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

curious Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.