curious

play

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

Definition of curious

1a archaic : made carefullyb obsolete : abstrusec archaic : precisely accurate
2a : 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.

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

For example, this year has brought a curious surge in the number of Bangladeshis arriving in Italy.

— The Economist, "Unwelcome choicesItaly is facing a surge of migration across the Mediterranean," 20 July 2017
Cruise ships, commercial flights and tour operators are all taking curious Americans to Cuba.

— lori rackl, chicagotribune.com, "Spend a ‘Weekend in Havana’ with new PBS special," 17 July 2017
Reporters and curious residents streamed to the scene within the hour.

— david ovalle and joey flechas, miamiherald, "After 20 years, the spectacle of the Versace murder still intrigues and baffles," 14 July 2017
Those questions made her curious enough to start the Future of Sex podcast.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "How Virtual Reality Sex Tech Just Might Change Women's Lives," 4 July 2017
And there was something else the detective was curious about.

— CBS News, "Crime & Punishment," 1 July 2017
Centering on three irreverent nuns played by Aubrey Plaza (witchy and bitchy), Alison Brie (frustrated and snooty) and Kate Micucci (bi-curious and babyish), the goofy plot never finds its groove.

— jeannette catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: In ‘The Little Hours,’ These Sisters Are Neither Chaste Nor Obedient," 29 June 2017
Nothing on a label or on most wine lists even identifies bottles as natural, leaving their discovery up to curious drinkers.

— michalene busico, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Definitive Guide to Natural Wine in L.A.," 28 June 2017
Tatcha also included a curious ingredient in its Violet-C Radiance Mask called the Japanese beautyberry, which packs tons of polyphenols and anxioxidant activity into the formula, helping stabilize the vitamin C and prevent it from breaking down.

— sarah wu, Teen Vogue, "Tatcha Launches Violet-C Radiance Mask," 28 June 2017

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

See Words from the same year

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. 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

CURIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

curious

play

adjective

Definition of curious for English Language Learners

: having a desire to learn or know more about something or someone
: strange, unusual, or unexpected

CURIOUS Defined for Kids

curious

play

adjective cu·ri·ous \ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs\

Definition of curious for Students

1 : eager to learn : inquisitive Curious onlookers gathered at the scene.
2 : showing an eagerness to learn a curious expression
3 : attracting attention by being strange or unusual : odd “… I'm a … collector … and I like to look at curious specimens.” — Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg