curious

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

|Updated on: 17 Aug 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

Another curious find from the recent study was traces of bracken, a type of fern, in Ötzi’s stomach.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Before He Died, Ötzi the Iceman Ate a Greasy, Fatty Meal," 13 July 2018
If all goes according to plan, two spacecraft will commence close encounters of the curious kind with two separate asteroids by the end of August.

— jeremy hsu, Scientific American, "Japan’s Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Nears Its Target, the Asteroid Ryugu," 26 June 2018
Players are curious about how the new rule will be officiated.

— kent somers, azcentral, "Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen not a long shot to start over Sam Bradford," 24 May 2018
Researchers on the West Coast were curious about the donor’s pancreas, but wanted to know the condition and the size of the organ before accepting it.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "'This room becomes sacred.' The heroic and heartbreaking journey of one organ donor's body," 17 May 2018
Lovers of classical music are some of the most intellectually curious and culturally adventurous people around.

— patrick neas, kansascity, "KC Fringe Festival brings an adventurous spirit to classical themes," 13 July 2018
He's become a curious and playful but protective pet, making what could be considered a gruff first impression with visitors.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Dog found shot, covered in bleach adopted by IMPD officer who rescued him," 11 July 2018
While a vast majority of Carnival passengers sailing on Europe cruises have been North Americans, these voyages also have drawn Europeans and Asians, who no doubt were curious about the American experience.

— david g. molyneaux, miamiherald, "Carnival, that most American of cruise lines, won't return to Europe any time soon," 5 July 2018
But Musleh was curious how Jones had fooled so many people.

— jeff maysh, Smithsonian, "The Counterfeit Queen of Soul," 28 June 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.